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Zac Goldsmith set to quit as MP over Heathrow decision Zac Goldsmith set to quit as MP over Heathrow decision
(about 1 hour later)
Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith is set to resign and force a by-election in his constituency in a protest against the government's backing for a new runway at Heathrow Airport.Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith is set to resign and force a by-election in his constituency in a protest against the government's backing for a new runway at Heathrow Airport.
Mr Goldsmith's local Conservative association confirmed he would honour his longstanding pledge.Mr Goldsmith's local Conservative association confirmed he would honour his longstanding pledge.
The Richmond Park MP and ex-London mayoral candidate has long campaigned against Heathrow expansion.The Richmond Park MP and ex-London mayoral candidate has long campaigned against Heathrow expansion.
He described the government's decision as "catastrophic".He described the government's decision as "catastrophic".
"I will be meeting my constituents later today before making a statement," he added on Twitter."I will be meeting my constituents later today before making a statement," he added on Twitter.
A letter sent to local party members by the local association was published by the Huffington Post. But Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has ruled out any rethink, while hinting that there may be a free vote for MPs.
Mr Goldsmith held his south-west London seat in 2015 with a 23,015 majority. The Liberal Democrats finished second. He told the House of Commons: "The prime minister has been very clear that she does not want to force - and indeed I don't think the public would expect us to force - MPs with long-standing principles of disagreement over this to go against their own views."
Speaking in the Commons after the Heathrow announcement, he said: "The government has chosen a course that is not only wrong; it's doomed. Speaking after Mr Grayling announced the Heathrow plans to MPs, Mr Goldsmith said: "The government has chosen a course that is not only wrong; it's doomed.
"It is wrong because of the million people who will directly suffer on the back of the environmental harm this project unavoidably produces, and doomed because the complexities, the cost, the legal complications mean that this project is almost certainly not going to be delivered.""It is wrong because of the million people who will directly suffer on the back of the environmental harm this project unavoidably produces, and doomed because the complexities, the cost, the legal complications mean that this project is almost certainly not going to be delivered."
He predicted Heathrow would be a "millstone around this government's neck for many many years to come".He predicted Heathrow would be a "millstone around this government's neck for many many years to come".
Mr Goldsmith held his south-west London seat in 2015 with a 23,015 majority. The Liberal Democrats, who held the seat until 2010, finished second.
'Rendered unliveable'
Former Lib Dem Business Secretary Sir Vince Cable, who lost his parliamentary seat at the last election, said he was "very, very unlikely" to stand against Mr Goldsmith, adding that his party already had a "good" candidate for the seat.
He added: "The key challenge actually is whether the government itself puts up a candidate and if Zac Goldsmith's going to stand as an anti-Heathrow candidate, is Theresa May going to put up her own Conservative? That's the key question we want an answer to."
Mr Goldsmith's fellow Conservative MP Tania Mathias, who represents Twickenham, told the Commons the government's decision was "misguided and not ultimately in the nation's interests". She added: "This is the wrong scheme and the price is too high."
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, whose Hayes and Harlington constituency contains Heathrow, said he would continue to campaign to ensure the third runway "never sees the light of day".
The Labour MP said: "I've campaigned against this runway for over 30 years and in that time Heathrow have never managed to win the argument for expansion, which still remains the case today.
"Nothing has changed. Building a third runway would be devastating for local residents who face losing their homes, schools, community centre and village life.
"Four thousand homes face the prospect of either being demolished or rendered unliveable by air pollution and noise."