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| Zac Goldsmith to resign as Tory MP after Heathrow go-ahead | Zac Goldsmith to resign as Tory MP after Heathrow go-ahead |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith is set to resign his seat in protest after the government finally gave the go-ahead to a third runway at Heathrow airport, a decision it has hailed as “momentous”. | |
| The MP for Richmond Park, who was the party’s London mayoral candidate, said the announcement was “catastrophic” and told his local Conservative Association that he would tender his resignation and force a byelection. | The MP for Richmond Park, who was the party’s London mayoral candidate, said the announcement was “catastrophic” and told his local Conservative Association that he would tender his resignation and force a byelection. |
| Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary , said a third runway at Heathrow was “undeliverable”, adding: “I think it very likely it will be stopped.” | |
| The government said the decision to expand Heathrow and the construction of the first full-length runway in the south-east since the second world war would be a major boost to the UK economy. | The government said the decision to expand Heathrow and the construction of the first full-length runway in the south-east since the second world war would be a major boost to the UK economy. |
| Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, said it was vital to keeping Britain open for business and that the economic benefits would be worth up to £61bn, as well as creating up to 77,000 additional local jobs. | Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, said it was vital to keeping Britain open for business and that the economic benefits would be worth up to £61bn, as well as creating up to 77,000 additional local jobs. |
| Goldsmith’s resignation was an immediate indication of the divisions within the Conservative party over the issue. It is understood Justine Greening, the education secretary, will restate her opposition to Heathrow expansion in a statement for constituents later on Tuesday afternoon. She was not expected to give any broadcast or press interviews. | Goldsmith’s resignation was an immediate indication of the divisions within the Conservative party over the issue. It is understood Justine Greening, the education secretary, will restate her opposition to Heathrow expansion in a statement for constituents later on Tuesday afternoon. She was not expected to give any broadcast or press interviews. |
| Under the terms of Theresa May’s limited suspension of collective responsibility, Greening will be able to continue expressing her discontent with the decision without actively campaigning against it. | Under the terms of Theresa May’s limited suspension of collective responsibility, Greening will be able to continue expressing her discontent with the decision without actively campaigning against it. |
| A Downing Street spokeswoman confirmed that Greening and Johnson have been given special dispensation to voice their longstanding opposition to expansion at Heathrow. | |
| May’s official spokeswoman said the view of the airport subcommittee had been unanimous in favour of Heathrow expansion and that there was no further discussion at full cabinet, when the prime minister informed colleagues of that decision. She told the cabinet it was a vital decision that had been ducked for too long. | |
| Within an hour of the official announcement, Goldsmith tweeted: | Within an hour of the official announcement, Goldsmith tweeted: |
| 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. |
| In an email to members, Richmond Park Conservative Association’s agent, David Jones, said Goldsmith had informed the local party he intended to resign. | In an email to members, Richmond Park Conservative Association’s agent, David Jones, said Goldsmith had informed the local party he intended to resign. |
| “You will no doubt have seen the announcement in the media this morning that the government has given the green light for expansion at Heathrow,” the email read. “Zac has contacted the association to let us know that he intends to honour his pledge to resign and force a byelection in Richmond Park. | “You will no doubt have seen the announcement in the media this morning that the government has given the green light for expansion at Heathrow,” the email read. “Zac has contacted the association to let us know that he intends to honour his pledge to resign and force a byelection in Richmond Park. |
| “The chairman has called an emergency meeting for the executive council for tomorrow evening to discuss the turn of events and will issue a full statement to members on the association’s position.” | “The chairman has called an emergency meeting for the executive council for tomorrow evening to discuss the turn of events and will issue a full statement to members on the association’s position.” |
| A spokeswoman for Goldsmith said he would be meeting constituents later on Tuesday before making a public statement. “Zac will be in the House of Commons for the Heathrow statement, and will be returning to speak to his constituents before making a statement after that,” she said. | |
| Goldsmith had been reported to be considering running in any subsequent byelection as an independent candidate. | Goldsmith had been reported to be considering running in any subsequent byelection as an independent candidate. |
| The Liberal Democrats, who held the seat from 1997 until 2010, have high hopes of winning the seat, especially if Goldsmith runs against a Conservative candidate. The party also hopes to capitalise on Goldsmith’s Brexit vote in the EU referendum, despite the area turning out strongly for remain. | The Liberal Democrats, who held the seat from 1997 until 2010, have high hopes of winning the seat, especially if Goldsmith runs against a Conservative candidate. The party also hopes to capitalise on Goldsmith’s Brexit vote in the EU referendum, despite the area turning out strongly for remain. |
| The Lib Dem leader, Tim Farron, said: “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 Lib Dem leader, Tim Farron, said: “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.” |
| In last week’s Witney by-election, the Lib Dems recorded their biggest byelection swing in 20 years, although the Conservatives held the seat. Farron visited the constituency five times and more than 1,000 activists campaigned in a single weekend, making it a test ground for more winnable seats like Richmond Park, party sources said. The party will face an uphill battle for recognition in the seat, however. Vince Cable, the former business secretary who was rumoured to be standing in Richmond Park having lost the neighbouring seat of Twickenham at the general election, will not run in the byelection. Instead, the candidate is a relative unknown, local accountant Sarah Olney who only joined the party in May 2015. | |
| Olney told the Guardian: “This has been a bit unexpected,” she admitted. “I’m ready to go to the voters, and our activists are really fired up by the result in Witney, and want to get stuck in to another byelection.” | |
| Widespread protests and legal challenges are expected to follow the decision, with campaigners expected to focus on air quality, noise and Britain’s climate change commitments. The runway, which could be built by 2025, would lead to almost 50% more planes over London, bringing new neighbourhoods under the flightpath. | |
| The government said it would 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 would 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 confirmed the scheme would be taken forward in the form of a draft national policy statement, which will be consulted on in the new year. | The government confirmed the scheme would be taken forward in the form of a draft national policy statement, which will be consulted on in the new year. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Khan said he may challenge the Heathrow decision through the courts, along with councils that are considering their options. “I am exploring how I can best be involved in any legal process over the coming months,” he said. “Most urgently, the government must set out how it’s possible for Londoners not to suffer from the additional air and noise pollution that we know will be created by an additional runway at Heathrow.” | Khan said he may challenge the Heathrow decision through the courts, along with councils that are considering their options. “I am exploring how I can best be involved in any legal process over the coming months,” he said. “Most urgently, the government must set out how it’s possible for Londoners not to suffer from the additional air and noise pollution that we know will be created by an additional runway at Heathrow.” |
| May’s own local council, Windsor and Maidenhead, also signalled it could be prepared to fight the decision in court. “Our campaign against Heathrow expansion with councils in Hillingdon, Richmond and Wandsworth and Greenpeace continues and we will take whatever action is necessary to stop this decision on behalf of the 1 million residents we represent,” said Simon Dudley, the leader of the council. | May’s own local council, Windsor and Maidenhead, also signalled it could be prepared to fight the decision in court. “Our campaign against Heathrow expansion with councils in Hillingdon, Richmond and Wandsworth and Greenpeace continues and we will take whatever action is necessary to stop this decision on behalf of the 1 million residents we represent,” said Simon Dudley, the leader of the council. |
| Labour said it still needed “vital reassurances” before backing Heathrow, even though it said airport expansion was “much needed” for investment and growth. | |
| The 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.” |