Kingston’s overwhelming rejection of the alternative vote showed Edward Davey’s parliamentary seat could be at risk, an expert said.

Kingston voters rejected changing the parliamentary electoral system by 60.5 per cent to 39.5 per cent on Thursday, May 5.

27,945 people in Kingston voted ‘no’, compared to 18,230 who voted ‘yes’, and the 42.9 per cent turnout was the second highest in London, just above the national average of 42 per cent.

The referendum was a key Conservative concession to the Liberal Democrats when they formed the coalition Government last year, and Kingston and Surbiton’s Lib Dem MP Edward Davey strongly supported the yes campaign.

Dr Elizabeth Evans, politics lecturer at Kingston University, said: “Particularly in Kingston, where a lot of Liberal Democrat voters felt let down by the tuition fees decision and felt quite angry with Edward Davey, it was a way of punishing him personally.

“I think that on the back of winning Richmond back, the Conservatives will put a lot of effort into winning Kingston back. It’s the type of seat they need to win to win a majority next time.

“The Lib Dems can’t rely on the student vote in Kingston again.”

She said she expected Kingston Conservatives to do well in next year’s London Assembly elections, confirming the tightening of politics in Kingston.