Politicians in South West London have spent more than £12,000 in the past year on Facebook adverts to secure your vote. 

Unsurprisingly there has been a surge in adverts in the last few weeks after the announcement of the General Election, leading to at least 29 adverts being posted by groups in Richmond, Kingston and Wandsworth in November so far. 

Ed Davey, the incumbent MP for Kingston and Surbiton, has been the biggest spender, forking out £4,860 over the year, but the majority of this money was for his campaign to become Lib Dem leader in July, when he spent money on 29 adverts.

He has not spent any money on Facebook adverts since then. 

Zac Goldsmith, incumbent MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, comes in second, spending £1,995 in the period. 

He has put out five adverts in November so far in the run up to the General Election, costing less than £100.

Three of these adverts focused on lobbying TfL to build a temporary bridge while Hammersmith Bridge undergoes repairs. 

Another claimed he was the only candidate who could “protect our community from the threat of Jeremy Corbyn as PM, propped up by the SNP and Lib Dems,” while another said he would work to deliver 45 new police officers to New Malden and Kingston. 

A close third is Wandsworth Labour, who have spent £1,721 this year, and pushed out 10 adverts in October.

Fleur for Putney, a page promoting Fleur Anderson as the Labour Party candidate for Putney, has spent £1,471 on adverts this year. 

It bought two adverts in November – one explaining why she is standing to be an MP, and another speaking to residents in Roehampton who are unhappy with the cleaning on their estate. 

She is followed by Kim Caddy, Conservative candidate for Battersea, who has spent £706 on adverts so far this year.

Aphra Brandreth, Conservative candidate for Kingston and Surbiton spent £603 on adverts this year, while Isobel Grant, Conservative candidate for Twickenham, spent £496. 

Overall, Conservative candidates in South West London appear to be spending more money on Facebook advertising, with seats such as Zac Goldsmith’s Richmond Park and North Kingston considered to be marginal. 

But Wandsworth Labour have also made a big push for Fleur Anderson in Putney, which is considered to be a possible swing seat in the absence of Justine Greening. 

Generally speaking, local Liberal Democrat, Green, Brexit and UKIP candidates have spent very little money on Facebook advertising.

Anyone with a Facebook page can pay to “boost” a post so it appears in users’ timelines.

The idea is that the more you pay, the more people it reaches. 

Anybody can see how much is being spent on Facebook advertising using the Ad Library tool.

This was launched in October 2018 after controversy surrounding advertisements used in the run up to the EU Referendum and US Presidential Election. 

It also reveals someone’s previous adverts and how many people it reached. 

Anyone who wants to advertise is also required to provide proof of identity and the location of their company or political party.