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| Zac Goldsmith quits as MP over Heathrow decision | Zac Goldsmith quits as MP over Heathrow decision |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith has resigned, forcing 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 has resigned, forcing a by-election in his constituency in a protest against the government's backing for a new runway at Heathrow Airport. |
| He will run as an independent but the Conservatives have said they will not field a candidate against him. | |
| The Richmond Park MP and former London mayoral candidate has long campaigned against expanding Heathrow. | The Richmond Park MP and former London mayoral candidate has long campaigned against expanding Heathrow. |
| The Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has ruled out any rethink. | |
| The Department for Transport says a new runway will benefit passengers and boost the wider economy by up to £61bn, creating as many as 77,000 local jobs over the next 14 years. | The Department for Transport says a new runway will benefit passengers and boost the wider economy by up to £61bn, creating as many as 77,000 local jobs over the next 14 years. |
| The Treasury confirmed that the formal process by which an MP steps down had been triggered, with the Richmond Park by-election thought likely to take place in December. | |
| Mr Goldsmith said the contest would be a "chance to send a message to government". | Mr Goldsmith said the contest would be a "chance to send a message to government". |
| He said: "I promised you if my party won the election, the third runway would be scrapped. And I wasn't making it up." | He said: "I promised you if my party won the election, the third runway would be scrapped. And I wasn't making it up." |
| He added: "There was no small print, no expiry date, no ambiguity. It was a simple promise. And it mattered. I know it mattered, because the thought of Heathrow expansion fills most of my constituents with dread." | He added: "There was no small print, no expiry date, no ambiguity. It was a simple promise. And it mattered. I know it mattered, because the thought of Heathrow expansion fills most of my constituents with dread." |
| Mr Goldsmith said the government had chosen the "most polluting, most disruptive, most expensive option" but it had "also chosen the option with the least chance of being delivered". | |
| He added: "The sheer complexity, cost and legal difficulties mean it is unlikely ever to happen. It will be a millstone round this government's neck for years." | He added: "The sheer complexity, cost and legal difficulties mean it is unlikely ever to happen. It will be a millstone round this government's neck for years." |
| But a Conservative spokesman said the government was "taking decisive action in the national interest to secure the UK's place in the global aviation market - securing jobs and business opportunities for the next decade and beyond". | |
| He added: "That's why we have delivered on our manifesto commitment to respond to the Airports Commission's final report and have announced our support for the first full-length runway in the South East since the Second World War. | |
| "We disagree with Zac about the need for a by-election in light of this decision, but understand his position. He has been a hard-working champion for the people of Richmond Park - as we know, he will continue to be if they re-elect him as their Member of Parliament - so we will not be putting up a candidate against him at this by-election." | |
| Earlier Mr Grayling 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." | Earlier Mr Grayling 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." |
| 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. |