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Zac Goldsmith vows to quit as MP if Heathrow third runway is allowed Zac Goldsmith vows to quit as MP if Heathrow third runway is allowed Zac Goldsmith vows to quit as MP if Heathrow third runway is allowed
(2 months later)
Zac Goldsmith has reiterated that he will quit as an MP if the government gives the green light to a third runway at Heathrow.Zac Goldsmith has reiterated that he will quit as an MP if the government gives the green light to a third runway at Heathrow.
There is mounting speculation that the government is set to back a third runway in the coming weeks, ending years of arguments over airport expansion.There is mounting speculation that the government is set to back a third runway in the coming weeks, ending years of arguments over airport expansion.
Goldsmith, the MP for Richmond, has been one of the leading opponents of Heathrow expansion.Goldsmith, the MP for Richmond, has been one of the leading opponents of Heathrow expansion.
The former Conservative candidate for London mayor confirmed he would stand down if expansion was approved but said the project faced huge question marks around its delivery.The former Conservative candidate for London mayor confirmed he would stand down if expansion was approved but said the project faced huge question marks around its delivery.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Goldsmith said: “My position is the same as it was nine years ago. I promised my constituents before I was ever elected in 2010 that I would trigger a byelection were the government to give a green light to Heathrow expansion. My position has never changed.Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Goldsmith said: “My position is the same as it was nine years ago. I promised my constituents before I was ever elected in 2010 that I would trigger a byelection were the government to give a green light to Heathrow expansion. My position has never changed.
“I’m committed to my constituents, I’m committed to fighting this campaign and I’m committed to winning this campaign – and I have every confidence that will happen.”“I’m committed to my constituents, I’m committed to fighting this campaign and I’m committed to winning this campaign – and I have every confidence that will happen.”
He added: “There are huge question marks about whether a third runway could even be delivered, irrespective of the government’s decision in the next week, two weeks, three weeks or so.He added: “There are huge question marks about whether a third runway could even be delivered, irrespective of the government’s decision in the next week, two weeks, three weeks or so.
“The legal risks are immense. You’ve got the councils under the flight path lining up with big chequebooks waiting to challenge these proposals. There are huge planning risks, there are financial risks. Heathrow is massively over-leveraged already. There is no prospect of their being able to raise the finance necessary to deliver this project without turning to the taxpayer.“The legal risks are immense. You’ve got the councils under the flight path lining up with big chequebooks waiting to challenge these proposals. There are huge planning risks, there are financial risks. Heathrow is massively over-leveraged already. There is no prospect of their being able to raise the finance necessary to deliver this project without turning to the taxpayer.
“Whatever the government decides, this project is not going to happen. In five years’ time, 10 years’ time, we’ll still be arguing about it.”“Whatever the government decides, this project is not going to happen. In five years’ time, 10 years’ time, we’ll still be arguing about it.”