Kingston’s Liberal Democrats have come under fire for making a “grubby, basement deal” after it was revealed its leader is in discussions with the Green Party over uniting to oust the Tories in the 2018 council elections.

The revelation comes a week after the chairman of Kingston’s Green Party sensationally claimed senior staff told members not to contest the Richmond Park by-election because a £250,000 donation was “conditional” on not standing.

Lib Dem candidate Sarah Olney unseated pro-Brexit MP Zac Goldsmith after the Greens stepped aside to form a “progressive alliance” against the former Tory.

Last week: Would-be Richmond Park Green candidate says decision to stand aside was decisive factor in by-election

A leaked email has now revealed Kingston’s Lib Dem leader Liz Green offered to meet with Green Party activist Andree Frieze in November to discuss “smart targeting” of wards in the upcoming council elections.

Council leader Kevin Davis said: “It’s just democracy denying at its worst. I doubt that it will ever happen, they don’t have an awful lot in common - it’s just silly games.

“You’ve got to give people the choice and there are plenty of people out there who will want to vote Green.

"It all seems a bit strange really - it doesn’t worry me. I just laughed [when I saw it] because cllr Green is obviously so worried she doesn’t think she can win it on her own.”

Surrey Comet:

Sarah Olney celebrates taking Richmond Park earlier this month

Kingston’s Lib Dems have denied any knowledge of the alleged £250,000 donation and described the proposed meeting as the “right thing to do”.

Richmond Park candidate Sarah Olney overturned a massive 23,015 vote majority to defeat Mr Goldsmith in the by-election two weeks ago, with Ms Frieze claiming the Green's decision to stand aside was the "decisive factor".

Kingston Greens chairman Ryan Colely claimed in a leaked report that the national party had pressured him and fellow members to step aside to form such an alliance.

The £250,000 donation was not accepted by the party.  

Cllr Green said: “That is a national Green Party matter as far as I’m concerned. The conversation I had with Ms Frieze had nothing to do with that concept.”

“I’m always willing to talk to people and that is what this email is about – it’s saying let’s have a discussion.

“People who say this is anti-democratic – the [first-past-the-post] system we have is anti-democratic.

“It makes sense in the environment that we’re currently in that we don’t rule anything out.

“My aim in 2018 is to take full control of the council. My aim is to oust the Tories – shock horror.”

Surrey Comet: Kevin Davis is the new leader of Kingston Council after being elected by the Conservative party last night. Pic: Jon Sharman

Kevin Davis and the Conservative Party took control of the council from the Lib Dems in 2014

Cllr Green pointed to UKIP’s decision not to field a candidate and back Mr Goldsmith in the by-election earlier this month as an example of right wing parties forming alliances.

But Kingston MP James Berry dismissed the proposed alliance as a “grubby, basement deal” and claimed there were “exceptional circumstances” during the by-election.

He will be working with Ms Olney over cross-constituency issues over the next few years, though the pair have yet to meet since her election.

Mr Berry said: “Personally I’m happy to work with councillors from any party to promote the people of Kingston, but I do think that this email thing - a grubby, basement deal – is going to become a very unpleasant surprise for residents.

“I tweeted congratulations to Sarah Olney [following the by-election] and I didn’t see her on the one day we were both in Parliament.

“I’ve sent her a letter saying I’m looking forward to working with her on issues that affect both our constituencies.”               

The Richmond Park by-election was called after Mr Goldsmith resigned over the Government’s decision to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

All candidates contesting the seat opposed building a third runway at Heathrow, though the Lib Dems concentrated much of the campaign on opposing Brexit.

Ms Frieze said: "As the recent Richmond Park by-election showed, when the centre-left unites to defeat the right’s drive for Brexit, Heathrow expansion and xenophobia, voters respond positively.

“This is just parties with the common cause of bringing an end to right-wing rule, both nationally and locally, talking.”