A bellwether seat? Labour candidate sees beating Boris Johnson as key to power

Danny Beales, Labour’s candidate to take on Boris Johnson in Uxbridge and South Ruislip at the next election, says ‘people deserve a full-time MP’. Composite: Alican Abaci, Getty Images

Labour’s candidate to take on Boris Johnson as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip says the party may have to win the seat for the first time to gain power at the next election.

Danny Beales, 34, a councillor and charity worker who grew up in the area, admits he will have to work “exceptionally hard” to overturn Johnson’s 7,210 majority.