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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/oct/25/heathrow-gatwick-airport-expansion-decision-day-politics-live
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| Heathrow expansion: Zac Goldsmith to resign over third runway decision - live | Heathrow expansion: Zac Goldsmith to resign over third runway decision - live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.46pm BST | |
| 13:46 | |
| Jessica Elgot | |
| Zac Goldsmith stood up in the Commons after Grayling’s statement and condemned the decision but made no mention of his plans to resign. | |
| The government has chosen a course that is not only wrong, it is doomed. It’s wrong because of the million people who will suffer on the back of the environmental harm this project unavoidably produces and doomed because of the complexities and costs and legal complications means this project is almost certainly not going to be delivered. | |
| I believe this will be a millstone around this government’s neck for many, many years to come, constant source of delay, of anger and betrayal among those people who will be directly affected. | |
| Goldsmith said he “would not know where to begin” in questioning the decision. “I simply want to put my absolute opposition on the record.” | |
| Grayling said he respected the sincerity of Goldsmith’s views and his commitment to his constituents. | |
| I hope he will at least respect the fact that all of us in politics have to do what we believe is right, I am doing what I believe is right,” he said. “His views are what he believes is right. Not all of us can get it right all the time, but you have to do what you believe is best for your country and that is what I believe I am doing now. | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.52pm BST | |
| 1.44pm BST | |
| 13:44 | |
| Campaigners opposed to Gatwick’s expansion have expressed relief at today’s decision. | |
| Sally Pavey, chair of CAGNE, Communities against Gatwick Noise and Emissions, said: | |
| This clear decision will put an end to the years of uncertainty for our communities and the country. Gatwick expansion was always the wrong choice both from a national and a local perspective. | |
| Nationally, had Gatwick been chosen, Britain could not have competed with Europe’s excellent transport hubs because we would have had two inadequate hubs 40 miles apart with little or no connectivity. Locally, it would have brought our infrastructure to a standstill, destroyed our ancient woodlands, heritage sites, and areas of outstanding natural beauty, added numerous new flight paths over areas previously undisturbed and doubled flights over our skies night and day with no respite. | |
| She urged Gatwick airport to accept the decision. | |
| 1.35pm BST | |
| 13:35 | |
| This animation shows the layers of air traffic associated with each of London’s five major airports over a 24-hour period. In Heathrow’s case that will obviously expand if a third runway is built. | |
| 1.32pm BST | |
| 13:32 | |
| Heathrow third runway 'undeliverable' - Boris Johnson | |
| Foreign secretary Boris Johnson may not have spoken up during this morning’s cabinet meeting, according to Number 10, but he has now. | |
| He said a third runway at Heathrow is “undeliverable”, adding: | |
| I think it very likely it will be stopped. | |
| 1.27pm BST | |
| 13:27 | |
| Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald begins by condemning the fact that the decision was widely leaked in the media ahead of being sent to him and announced to the house. | |
| He also criticises the “procrastination and delay”. | |
| He stresses that Labour’s support will be conditional: | |
| Firstly, on sufficient capacity being delivered; secondly, that the UK’s legal climate change obligations are met; thirdly, that local noise and environmental impacts are managed and minimised; and fourthly, that the benefits are not confined to London and the South East. | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.27pm BST | |
| 1.21pm BST | 1.21pm BST |
| 13:21 | 13:21 |
| Grayling says: | Grayling says: |
| This is a decision in the national interest, it is not just about south-east England. | This is a decision in the national interest, it is not just about south-east England. |
| There are laughs as Grayling denies that the process has been slow and convoluted, claims he blames on the media. | There are laughs as Grayling denies that the process has been slow and convoluted, claims he blames on the media. |
| He acknowledges “strong feelings” both for and against a third runway at Heathrow. | He acknowledges “strong feelings” both for and against a third runway at Heathrow. |
| He finishes by saying that it is vital for the future prosperity of the country. | He finishes by saying that it is vital for the future prosperity of the country. |
| 1.17pm BST | 1.17pm BST |
| 13:17 | 13:17 |
| Grayling says the government is backed by UK airlines and businesses that a third runway at Heathrow is the right option. | Grayling says the government is backed by UK airlines and businesses that a third runway at Heathrow is the right option. |
| He stresses that Gatwick remains “a key part of out transport infrastructure and will continue to be so in the future”. | He stresses that Gatwick remains “a key part of out transport infrastructure and will continue to be so in the future”. |
| There must be efforts to make Heathrow “a better neighbour”. | There must be efforts to make Heathrow “a better neighbour”. |
| He says the government takes the issue of air quality “very seriously indeed”. | He says the government takes the issue of air quality “very seriously indeed”. |
| By the time a new runway is built he hopes to have made substantial progress in tackling air quality concerns, says Grayling. | By the time a new runway is built he hopes to have made substantial progress in tackling air quality concerns, says Grayling. |
| He says aeroplanes are being made quieter and, referring to the 6.5 hours ban on flights each night, claims that even with expansion fewer people will be affected than today. | He says aeroplanes are being made quieter and, referring to the 6.5 hours ban on flights each night, claims that even with expansion fewer people will be affected than today. |
| Heathrow will pay 25% above the market price to people whose homes have to be demolished as well as all costs, including stamp duty. | Heathrow will pay 25% above the market price to people whose homes have to be demolished as well as all costs, including stamp duty. |
| He says it is not “expansion at any cost but the right scheme at the right cost”. | He says it is not “expansion at any cost but the right scheme at the right cost”. |
| 1.11pm BST | 1.11pm BST |
| 13:11 | 13:11 |
| Grayling begins his statement in the Commons saying if we do nothing the costs to the economy will be significant. | Grayling begins his statement in the Commons saying if we do nothing the costs to the economy will be significant. |
| Any one of the three plans would have brought benefits but a third runway at Heathrow was the clear decision of the Airports Commission, he continues. | Any one of the three plans would have brought benefits but a third runway at Heathrow was the clear decision of the Airports Commission, he continues. |
| The government has decided to accept that recommendation. | The government has decided to accept that recommendation. |
| He says it offers the greatest benefits to passengers and businesses. | He says it offers the greatest benefits to passengers and businesses. |
| Crucially it comes with world-leading measures to limit the impacts on those living nearby. | Crucially it comes with world-leading measures to limit the impacts on those living nearby. |
| 1.06pm BST | 1.06pm BST |
| 13:06 | 13:06 |
| Gwyn Topham | Gwyn Topham |
| Labour said it still needed “vital reassurances” before backing Heathrow, even though it said airport expansion was “much needed” for investment and growth. | Labour said it still needed “vital reassurances” before backing Heathrow, even though it said airport expansion was “much needed” for investment and growth. |
| Shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald, said: | Shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald, said: |
| Labour has consistently been in favour of building an additional runway in the south east of England. But this support has always been conditional on four tests being met: on capacity, climate change, noise and air quality and the wider national benefits. Today’s announcement, heralding another consultation, does not yet do that. | Labour has consistently been in favour of building an additional runway in the south east of England. But this support has always been conditional on four tests being met: on capacity, climate change, noise and air quality and the wider national benefits. Today’s announcement, heralding another consultation, does not yet do that. |
| 12.50pm BST | 12.50pm BST |
| 12:50 | 12:50 |
| Shadow chancellor John McDonnell says the decision is a “disaster”: | Shadow chancellor John McDonnell says the decision is a “disaster”: |
| My response to the Government’s announcement today to support a third runway at Heathrow in my constituency. pic.twitter.com/V7OaiZ8XGn | My response to the Government’s announcement today to support a third runway at Heathrow in my constituency. pic.twitter.com/V7OaiZ8XGn |
| 12.48pm BST | 12.48pm BST |
| 12:48 | 12:48 |
| PM says decision will boost Britain post-Brexit | PM says decision will boost Britain post-Brexit |
| Theresa May told the Evening Standard: | Theresa May told the Evening Standard: |
| After decades of delay we are showing that we will take the big decisions when they’re the right decisions for Britain, and we will ensure they’re right for ordinary working people too. | After decades of delay we are showing that we will take the big decisions when they’re the right decisions for Britain, and we will ensure they’re right for ordinary working people too. |
| Airport expansion is vital for the economic future of the whole of the UK and today also provides certainty to Londoners. Businesses will know that we are building the infrastructure they need to access global markets. | Airport expansion is vital for the economic future of the whole of the UK and today also provides certainty to Londoners. Businesses will know that we are building the infrastructure they need to access global markets. |
| Ordinary, working people will know that my government backs jobs and growth. | Ordinary, working people will know that my government backs jobs and growth. |
| We want the benefits of a new runway as quickly as possible, but we will also make sure London and taxpayers get a good deal. | We want the benefits of a new runway as quickly as possible, but we will also make sure London and taxpayers get a good deal. |
| By making sure we improve the links between regional airports and our capital city we can use airport expansion as an opportunity to bring the UK closer together. | By making sure we improve the links between regional airports and our capital city we can use airport expansion as an opportunity to bring the UK closer together. |
| This decision demonstrates that as we leave the EU we can make a success of Brexit and Britain can be that open, global, successful country we all want it to be. | This decision demonstrates that as we leave the EU we can make a success of Brexit and Britain can be that open, global, successful country we all want it to be. |
| 12.43pm BST | 12.43pm BST |
| 12:43 | 12:43 |
| Libby Brooks | Libby Brooks |
| The Scottish government has faced considerable criticism since it announced its backing for the third runway, which it claimed would create up to 16,000 jobs across Scotland. | The Scottish government has faced considerable criticism since it announced its backing for the third runway, which it claimed would create up to 16,000 jobs across Scotland. |
| A memorandum of understanding was signed at the start of October between London Heathrow airport and the SNP government, containing a series of commitments, including the one on jobs, investigating the use of Glasgow Prestwick airport as a potential site for a logistics hub for building the third runway, and a reduction of £10 per passenger on landing charges paid by airlines operating services from Heathrow to Scotland, | A memorandum of understanding was signed at the start of October between London Heathrow airport and the SNP government, containing a series of commitments, including the one on jobs, investigating the use of Glasgow Prestwick airport as a potential site for a logistics hub for building the third runway, and a reduction of £10 per passenger on landing charges paid by airlines operating services from Heathrow to Scotland, |
| The memorandum was signed just days before the SNP’s party conference, which included a “private, airport-style lounge” sponsored by Heathrow to promote the benefits of the expansion to Scotland, as it did at last year’s event in Aberdeen. | The memorandum was signed just days before the SNP’s party conference, which included a “private, airport-style lounge” sponsored by Heathrow to promote the benefits of the expansion to Scotland, as it did at last year’s event in Aberdeen. |
| Although Heathrow also supported recent Labour, Tory and LibDem conferences, no other party formally backed the expansion in this way. But the Scottish government insisted it had engaged extensively with both Gatwick and Heathrow’s proposals, and the latter’s offered the best deal for Scotland. | Although Heathrow also supported recent Labour, Tory and LibDem conferences, no other party formally backed the expansion in this way. But the Scottish government insisted it had engaged extensively with both Gatwick and Heathrow’s proposals, and the latter’s offered the best deal for Scotland. |
| At the time, environmental campaigners also expressed their disappointment that the Scottish government failing to match its climate change commitments with action. | At the time, environmental campaigners also expressed their disappointment that the Scottish government failing to match its climate change commitments with action. |
| Following today’s news, the Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Mike Rumbles MSP added to the criticism, sayings: | Following today’s news, the Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Mike Rumbles MSP added to the criticism, sayings: |
| The SNP have utterly failed to square their backing for Heathrow with their climate change commitments and ambition to reduce environmentally damaging short-haul flights. | The SNP have utterly failed to square their backing for Heathrow with their climate change commitments and ambition to reduce environmentally damaging short-haul flights. |
| 12.41pm BST | 12.41pm BST |
| 12:41 | 12:41 |
| This seems surprising given that Boris Johnson said, as he left Downing Street, that he would continue to fight against Heathrow expansion. We know Justine Greening is opposed to a third runway as well. | This seems surprising given that Boris Johnson said, as he left Downing Street, that he would continue to fight against Heathrow expansion. We know Justine Greening is opposed to a third runway as well. |
| No10: Cab sub cttee decision on Heathrow was "unanimous". And when May informed full Cabinet "there wasn't a discussion". No Boris dissent. | No10: Cab sub cttee decision on Heathrow was "unanimous". And when May informed full Cabinet "there wasn't a discussion". No Boris dissent. |
| 12.38pm BST | 12.38pm BST |
| 12:38 | 12:38 |
| Esther Addley | Esther Addley |
| Neil Keveren, whose house faces what is scheduled to become the boundary fence of the new runway, said residents felt “betrayed” by the decision, six years after David Cameron gave a commitment that a third runway would not be built at Heathrow, “no ifs, no buts”. | Neil Keveren, whose house faces what is scheduled to become the boundary fence of the new runway, said residents felt “betrayed” by the decision, six years after David Cameron gave a commitment that a third runway would not be built at Heathrow, “no ifs, no buts”. |
| We received a promise. We all made life choices based on that, which we believed. Some people decided to lay their loved ones to rest here because of it. I invested in my home. I thought we were safe and I feel we have been have been betrayed by Theresa May. | We received a promise. We all made life choices based on that, which we believed. Some people decided to lay their loved ones to rest here because of it. I invested in my home. I thought we were safe and I feel we have been have been betrayed by Theresa May. |
| Half of the ancient village is set to be flattened to make way for the runway, with most feeling the remainder of the village will become unliveable. | Half of the ancient village is set to be flattened to make way for the runway, with most feeling the remainder of the village will become unliveable. |
| “I’m very disappointed, and I feel betrayed, and also worried,” said Lesley O’Brien, whose house in Cambridge Close, in which she has lived or 46 years and raised her three children – is scheduled to be bulldozed. | “I’m very disappointed, and I feel betrayed, and also worried,” said Lesley O’Brien, whose house in Cambridge Close, in which she has lived or 46 years and raised her three children – is scheduled to be bulldozed. |
| “Where can I go? They keep on about the money, but it’s not about the money. They can keep their money. I want to stay here.” | “Where can I go? They keep on about the money, but it’s not about the money. They can keep their money. I want to stay here.” |
| Despite the thundering M4 and M25 just to the north and west, Harmondsworth is a historic and pretty community, and many who lived here have very local roots. Dave Durston, who moved here in 1983, grew up and went to school just a few miles away. What angered him, he said, was “the fact that people who live nowhere near the place, without coming to see what’s going to be destroyed, can decide that it’s got to go”. | Despite the thundering M4 and M25 just to the north and west, Harmondsworth is a historic and pretty community, and many who lived here have very local roots. Dave Durston, who moved here in 1983, grew up and went to school just a few miles away. What angered him, he said, was “the fact that people who live nowhere near the place, without coming to see what’s going to be destroyed, can decide that it’s got to go”. |
| 12.29pm BST | 12.29pm BST |
| 12:29 | 12:29 |
| Adam Vaughan | Adam Vaughan |
| Somewhat incredibly, the government has suggested the third runway at Heathrow would help reduce carbon emissions: | Somewhat incredibly, the government has suggested the third runway at Heathrow would help reduce carbon emissions: |
| Gotta admire the chutzpah of a government that spins a third runway at Heathrow as good news for carbon emissions https://t.co/jAA7ADARkp pic.twitter.com/keT3w1vHOJ | Gotta admire the chutzpah of a government that spins a third runway at Heathrow as good news for carbon emissions https://t.co/jAA7ADARkp pic.twitter.com/keT3w1vHOJ |
| Officials have also claimed the third runway would be not see the UK breaching legal air quality limits, because of mitigation measures such as electric car charging points and more public transport. | Officials have also claimed the third runway would be not see the UK breaching legal air quality limits, because of mitigation measures such as electric car charging points and more public transport. |
| Government also concludes expanded Heathrow will meet legal air pollution limits, due to mitigation measures pic.twitter.com/JvXe182i7d | Government also concludes expanded Heathrow will meet legal air pollution limits, due to mitigation measures pic.twitter.com/JvXe182i7d |
| 12.28pm BST | 12.28pm BST |
| 12:28 | 12:28 |
| Lib Dems leader Tim Farron said the government has betrayed communities in west London. | Lib Dems leader Tim Farron said the government has betrayed communities in west London. |
| The ‘No Ifs, No Buts’ pledge from the Conservatives has been thrown by the wayside in the rush to bulldoze homes and build a new runway. | The ‘No Ifs, No Buts’ pledge from the Conservatives has been thrown by the wayside in the rush to bulldoze homes and build a new runway. |
| Zac Goldsmith has failed Richmond Park on Heathrow and betrayed them on Brexit. | Zac Goldsmith has failed Richmond Park on Heathrow and betrayed them on Brexit. |
| The turbulence in the Conservative party is nothing compared to the anger felt by those they have betrayed by giving up their commitment to the environment and communities in West London. | The turbulence in the Conservative party is nothing compared to the anger felt by those they have betrayed by giving up their commitment to the environment and communities in West London. |
| Theresa May used to make this case, now she has ripped those words down from her website and scrubbed them from history. | Theresa May used to make this case, now she has ripped those words down from her website and scrubbed them from history. |
| Boris once said he would lay down in front of the bulldozer. Now he will find himself on the slow boat to China - anywhere to avoid having to stand up for his principles - or stand down from his seat at the cabinet table. | Boris once said he would lay down in front of the bulldozer. Now he will find himself on the slow boat to China - anywhere to avoid having to stand up for his principles - or stand down from his seat at the cabinet table. |
| 12.24pm BST | 12.24pm BST |
| 12:24 | 12:24 |
| Here is Chris Grayling explaining Heathrow was chosen to boost connectivity to the rest of the UK and to provide the best trade links to the rest of the world. | Here is Chris Grayling explaining Heathrow was chosen to boost connectivity to the rest of the UK and to provide the best trade links to the rest of the world. |