What does the Uxbridge by-election mean for the future of Independent politics?

Attending the Uxbridge and Ruislip by-election, following Boris Johnson’s resignation, I saw the Conservative Party vote fall from 25,351 in 2019 to 13, 965, which was close enough for a recount. There was a very full set of candidates with plenty of choice of Independents and party members. 11 out of 17 candidates attended the