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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 | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.48pm BST | |
| 12:48 | |
| PM says decision will boost Britain post-Brexit | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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 | |
| 12:43 | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 12.41pm BST | |
| 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. | |
| 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 | |
| 12:38 | |
| 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”. | |
| 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. | |
| “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.” | |
| 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 | |
| 12:29 | |
| Adam Vaughan | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 12.28pm BST | |
| 12:28 | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 12.24pm BST | |
| 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. | |
| 12.20pm BST | |
| 12:20 | |
| Gwyn Topham | |
| The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, accused the government of “running roughshod over Londoners’ views”, saying he had been elected on a clear platform of opposing a new runway at Heathrow. | |
| He said: | |
| A new runway at Heathrow will be devastating for air quality across London – air pollution around the airport is already above legal levels of NO2. | |
| Heathrow already exposes more people to aircraft noise than Paris CDG, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Munich and Madrid combined. A third runway would mean an extra 200,000 people impacted, exposing 124 more schools and 43,200 more schoolchildren to an unacceptable level of noise. | |
| 12.13pm BST | 12.13pm BST |
| 12:13 | 12:13 |
| Zac Goldsmith to resign | Zac Goldsmith to resign |
| The Guardian understands that Zac Goldsmith will announce his resignation this afternoon, making good on his promise to do so if the green light was given to a third runway at Heathrow. He will thereby trigger a tricky by-election for the Conservatives. | The Guardian understands that Zac Goldsmith will announce his resignation this afternoon, making good on his promise to do so if the green light was given to a third runway at Heathrow. He will thereby trigger a tricky by-election for the Conservatives. |
| Following the Government's catastrophic Heathrow announcement, I will be meeting my constituents later today before making a statement. | Following the Government's catastrophic Heathrow announcement, I will be meeting my constituents later today before making a statement. |
| 12.08pm BST | 12.08pm BST |
| 12:08 | 12:08 |
| This is what has been given the go ahead: | This is what has been given the go ahead: |
| Back Heathrow’s campaign director, Rob Gray, said: | Back Heathrow’s campaign director, Rob Gray, said: |
| This is a significant moment for thousands of residents living near Heathrow who back expansion because they have waited a long time for today’s news. | This is a significant moment for thousands of residents living near Heathrow who back expansion because they have waited a long time for today’s news. |
| It’s now or never. Building a new runway at Heathrow has plenty of cross-party support in parliament and backing from the majority of international airlines, business groups, trade unions, exporters and communities surrounding the airport. This is a golden opportunity for the UK that must not be squandered. | It’s now or never. Building a new runway at Heathrow has plenty of cross-party support in parliament and backing from the majority of international airlines, business groups, trade unions, exporters and communities surrounding the airport. This is a golden opportunity for the UK that must not be squandered. |
| 12.05pm BST | 12.05pm BST |
| 12:05 | 12:05 |
| The leader of Richmond Council said he is “appalled” by today’s decision. He promised to “fight this threat, using every means at our disposal within the law” and that the third runway would never be built. | The leader of Richmond Council said he is “appalled” by today’s decision. He promised to “fight this threat, using every means at our disposal within the law” and that the third runway would never be built. |
| Lord True, Leader of @LBRUT slams Government decision to expand #Heathrow #NOtoHeathrow @bbcbreaking https://t.co/hHt2kuIOuT | Lord True, Leader of @LBRUT slams Government decision to expand #Heathrow #NOtoHeathrow @bbcbreaking https://t.co/hHt2kuIOuT |
| 12.00pm BST | 12.00pm BST |
| 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Gwyn Topham | Gwyn Topham |
| The government said it will propose a six-and-a-half hour ban on scheduled night flights, and will make more stringent night noise restrictions a requirement of expansion. It will also propose new legally binding noise targets. | The government said it will propose a six-and-a-half hour ban on scheduled night flights, and will make more stringent night noise restrictions a requirement of expansion. It will also propose new legally binding noise targets. |
| It also stipulated that the third runway “must be delivered without hitting passengers in the pocket”. Although charges to airlines are expected to rise substantially at an expanded Heathrow, the government said that the Airports Commission and CAA were clear that keeping fares steady was “achievable”. | It also stipulated that the third runway “must be delivered without hitting passengers in the pocket”. Although charges to airlines are expected to rise substantially at an expanded Heathrow, the government said that the Airports Commission and CAA were clear that keeping fares steady was “achievable”. |
| Airlines warned that the cost of expansion would be crucial. Airline trade body BATA said: | Airlines warned that the cost of expansion would be crucial. Airline trade body BATA said: |
| We will be scrutinising this decision and future, more detailed, plans. Heathrow is the most expensive hub airport in the world - and airports are not funded by the taxpayer, but by passengers. Today’s passengers must not pay for capacity that will not be operational until the mid-2020s. | We will be scrutinising this decision and future, more detailed, plans. Heathrow is the most expensive hub airport in the world - and airports are not funded by the taxpayer, but by passengers. Today’s passengers must not pay for capacity that will not be operational until the mid-2020s. |
| 11.58am BST | 11.58am BST |
| 11:58 | 11:58 |
| Esther Addley | Esther Addley |
| Armelle Thomas has lived in Harmondsworth since the late 1960s - she and her late husband Tommy met while working at Heathrow and “fell in love” with the village. | Armelle Thomas has lived in Harmondsworth since the late 1960s - she and her late husband Tommy met while working at Heathrow and “fell in love” with the village. |
| Her house, just behind the High Street, is one of those set to disappear under the new runway, but Thomas said she was determined never to move. | Her house, just behind the High Street, is one of those set to disappear under the new runway, but Thomas said she was determined never to move. |
| My house is not for sale at any price. I was with my husband for 46 years and I have my memories. | My house is not for sale at any price. I was with my husband for 46 years and I have my memories. |
| Last month, she attended the Conservative party conference to hand out protest leaflets. | Last month, she attended the Conservative party conference to hand out protest leaflets. |
| Nobody is talking about 10,500 people being made homeless by a government that is supposed to be compassionate. I’m a Conservative, I have always been, but they will never get my vote again. | Nobody is talking about 10,500 people being made homeless by a government that is supposed to be compassionate. I’m a Conservative, I have always been, but they will never get my vote again. |
| Another local resident said his elderly neighbour in their home village of Longford, which will disappear entirely to make way for a car park, had been in tears when he spoke to him this morning | Another local resident said his elderly neighbour in their home village of Longford, which will disappear entirely to make way for a car park, had been in tears when he spoke to him this morning |
| The man, who declined to give his name because he works at Heathrow, said his neighbour visited hospital every second day because he needed dialysis. | The man, who declined to give his name because he works at Heathrow, said his neighbour visited hospital every second day because he needed dialysis. |
| Where is he going to move to? He’s not going to find another house, another village. He has there since before Heathrow, he grew up there. He will never have people supporting him like they do in the village when he is sick. It’s totally unfair on people like him. | Where is he going to move to? He’s not going to find another house, another village. He has there since before Heathrow, he grew up there. He will never have people supporting him like they do in the village when he is sick. It’s totally unfair on people like him. |
| 11.56am BST | 11.56am BST |
| 11:56 | 11:56 |
| Gwyn Topham | Gwyn Topham |
| Business leaders have welcomed the decision to expand Heathrow. The president of the CBI, Paul Drechsler, said it was “an enormous relief to firms in every corner of the country”. | Business leaders have welcomed the decision to expand Heathrow. The president of the CBI, Paul Drechsler, said it was “an enormous relief to firms in every corner of the country”. |
| He said: | He said: |
| It will create the air links that will do so much to drive jobs and unlock growth across the UK. | It will create the air links that will do so much to drive jobs and unlock growth across the UK. |
| With contracts to tender for, apprentices to recruit and supply chains to build, this decision must be taken forward swiftly, giving businesses the confidence to invest. | With contracts to tender for, apprentices to recruit and supply chains to build, this decision must be taken forward swiftly, giving businesses the confidence to invest. |
| The chair of the transport select committee, Louise Ellman MP, said: | The chair of the transport select committee, Louise Ellman MP, said: |
| This decision will boost business, create training opportunities and new jobs and open the UK to new markets. | This decision will boost business, create training opportunities and new jobs and open the UK to new markets. |
| We have had to wait a long time for this. We recognise it won’t be an easy journey… We urge the Government to have the courage of their convictions and press ahead so that the timetable to deliver the additional capacity by 2030 can be delivered. | We have had to wait a long time for this. We recognise it won’t be an easy journey… We urge the Government to have the courage of their convictions and press ahead so that the timetable to deliver the additional capacity by 2030 can be delivered. |
| But Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, said: | But Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, said: |
| The decision to expand Heathrow tramples over the concerns of local people and puts a wrecking ball through the Government’s claim to be concerned about climate change. The truth is that the Government went into this process with their eyes shut to the only sensible option: stopping airport expansion. | The decision to expand Heathrow tramples over the concerns of local people and puts a wrecking ball through the Government’s claim to be concerned about climate change. The truth is that the Government went into this process with their eyes shut to the only sensible option: stopping airport expansion. |
| The Campaign to Protect Rural England said it was “madness”. Ralph Smyth of the CPRE said: | The Campaign to Protect Rural England said it was “madness”. Ralph Smyth of the CPRE said: |
| The north-south divide has been increasing: by giving the go ahead to yet another runway in the south the Prime Minister has effectively pulled the rug on her own flagship policy of rebalancing our nation’s economy. | The north-south divide has been increasing: by giving the go ahead to yet another runway in the south the Prime Minister has effectively pulled the rug on her own flagship policy of rebalancing our nation’s economy. |
| It’s madness to be promoting domestic flights at the same time as investing in alternatives like high speed rail. | It’s madness to be promoting domestic flights at the same time as investing in alternatives like high speed rail. |
| 11.54am BST | 11.54am BST |
| 11:54 | 11:54 |
| Heathrow is naturally pleased with the decision. | Heathrow is naturally pleased with the decision. |
| A spokesman for the airport said: | A spokesman for the airport said: |
| We welcome the news that Heathrow is government’s preferred site for a new runway and look forward to hearing the full details later from the transport secretary. | We welcome the news that Heathrow is government’s preferred site for a new runway and look forward to hearing the full details later from the transport secretary. |
| Expansion of Heathrow is the only option that will connect all of the UK to global growth, helping to build a stronger and fairer economy. | Expansion of Heathrow is the only option that will connect all of the UK to global growth, helping to build a stronger and fairer economy. |
| We await the full details, but Heathrow stands ready to work with government, businesses, airlines and our local communities to deliver an airport that is fair, affordable and secures the benefits of expansion for the whole of the UK. | We await the full details, but Heathrow stands ready to work with government, businesses, airlines and our local communities to deliver an airport that is fair, affordable and secures the benefits of expansion for the whole of the UK. |
| 11.46am BST | 11.46am BST |
| 11:46 | 11:46 |
| Rowena Mason | Rowena Mason |
| It is understood Justine Greening, the education secretary, will restate her opposition to expansion at Heathrow in a statement for constituents later on Tuesday afternoon. | It is understood Justine Greening, the education secretary, will restate her opposition to expansion at Heathrow in a statement for constituents later on Tuesday afternoon. |
| She is not expected to give any broadcast or press interviews. Under the terms of May’s limited suspension of collective responsibility, Greening will be able to continue expressing her discontent with the decision without actively campaigning against it. | She is not expected to give any broadcast or press interviews. Under the terms of May’s limited suspension of collective responsibility, Greening will be able to continue expressing her discontent with the decision without actively campaigning against it. |
| Zac Goldsmith, the Tory MP for Richmond Park, said he was meeting constituents about the “catastrophic” decision before making a statement on his future this evening. | Zac Goldsmith, the Tory MP for Richmond Park, said he was meeting constituents about the “catastrophic” decision before making a statement on his future this evening. |
| He has threatened to resign and trigger a byelection in his seat, standing as an independent, but has not yet said whether he will do this straight away or put it off until there is a vote in parliament next year. | He has threatened to resign and trigger a byelection in his seat, standing as an independent, but has not yet said whether he will do this straight away or put it off until there is a vote in parliament next year. |
| 11.42am BST | 11.42am BST |
| 11:42 | 11:42 |
| Leaving Downing Street, Grayling was asked if he truly believed the third runway would become a reality. He answered: “Absolutely.” | Leaving Downing Street, Grayling was asked if he truly believed the third runway would become a reality. He answered: “Absolutely.” |