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Zac Goldsmith quits as MP over 'doomed' Heathrow expansion decision Zac Goldsmith quits as MP over 'doomed' Heathrow expansion decision
(about 1 hour later)
Zac Goldsmith has resigned as Conservative MP for Richmond Park over the government’s “doomed” decision to back a third runway at Heathrow airport, triggering a difficult byelection for Theresa May. Zac Goldsmith has resigned as Conservative MP for Richmond Park over the government’s “doomed” decision to back a third runway at Heathrow airport.
Goldsmith is expected to stand as an independent candidate in the south-west London seat, creating a dilemma for the Tories about whether to stand a candidate against him. The former London mayoral candidate confirmed he would stand as an independent candidate to contest what would be regarded as a referendum on Heathrow expansion, saying the issue was a “running sore” in the south-west London seat.
The seat was only recently held by the Liberal Democrats, who are against expansion at Heathrow and in favour of EU membership, giving them a fighting chance against the pro-Brexit Goldsmith despite his local popularity. The decision to step down is blow for Theresa May, as the Conservatives announced they would not contest the seat. It means the prime minister will lose an MP, making her slim working majority of 16 even smaller and giving the Liberal Democrats the chance to regain a foothold in south-west London.
Earlier, Goldsmith told the House of Commons that Heathrow was “doomed” and would be a “millstone around the neck of the government” after the decision to proceed was hailed as “momentous” by Chris Grayling, the transport secretary. Tory party sources said fielding a candidate would simply have drawn attention to rancour and division within the Conservatives.
Goldsmith, who ran as the Conservative candidate for London mayor earlier this year, is a senior figure in the party. A party spokesman said: “We disagree with Zac about the need for a byelection 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 MP – so we will not be putting up a candidate against him at this byelection.”
He is the only Tory so far to resign over the decision to back Heathrow’s expansion, after Boris Johnson and Justine Greening were given permission by May to stay in their cabinet jobs while continuing to criticise a third runway. The seat was held by the Lib Dems as recently as six years ago, giving them a fighting chance despite Goldsmith’s local popularity. The party is against expansion at Heathrow and in favour of EU membership in an area that was strongly in favour of remaining.
Johnson, the foreign secretary and former London mayor, said the Heathrow plan was “undeliverable”, while Greening, the education secretary, said she was “extremely disappointed”. In a statement in his constituency, Goldsmith sought to make the byelection all about Heathrow. He said he must honour his promise to resign if the Conservatives were to ever back the airport’s expansion. He made the vow after David Cameron, while in opposition, ruled out such a move.
However, Goldsmith’s resignation will be more of a headache forthe prime minister, who can hardly afford to lose a Conservative seat with such a slim working majority of just 16. “I know there will be some who see today not as an outrage – but as an opportunity to advance their party interests. But this byelection must be a referendum on Heathrow expansion,” he said. “It is our chance to send a message to government and Heathrow – via the ballot box – by giving me the mandate I need to continue fighting on your behalf.”
Goldsmith has not personally made a statement yet but the byelection was triggered as Philip Hammond, the chancellor, appointed him steward and bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern. Earlier, Goldsmith told the House of Commons that Heathrow was doomed and would be a “millstone around the neck of the government” after the decision to proceed was hailed as momentous by Chris Grayling, the transport secretary.
Earlier on Tuesday, 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. Goldsmith, who was defeated when ran as the Conservative candidate for London mayor in May, is the only party figure so far to resign over the Heathrow decision. Boris Johnson and Justine Greening have stayed in their jobs after they were given permission by May to criticise the third runway proposal while in cabinet.
Grayling 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. Johnson, the foreign secretary and a former London mayor, said the Heathrow plan was undeliverable, while Greening, the education secretary, said she was extremely disappointed.
However, Goldsmith’s resignation will be more of a headache for the prime minister, who can hardly afford to lose a Conservative seat with such a slim working majority.
The legal procedure used to implement a resignation from the Commons was carried out by Philip Hammond, the chancellor, when he appointed Goldsmith steward and bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern.
Earlier, the government said the decision to expand Heathrow and the construction of the first full-length runway in south-east England since the second world war would be a major boost to the UK economy.
Grayling said the expansion 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 local jobs.
May’s official spokeswoman said the view of the airport subcommittee had been unanimous in favour of Heathrow and that there was no further discussion at full cabinet. She told the cabinet it was a vital decision that had been ducked for too long.May’s official spokeswoman said the view of the airport subcommittee had been unanimous in favour of Heathrow and that there was no further discussion at full cabinet. She told the cabinet it was a vital decision that had been ducked for too long.
However, the decision is likely to cause friction within the Conservative party. Speaking in Westminster, Johnson highlighted the threat of four Tory-led councils to launch legal action against plans for Heathrow expansion. However, the decision is likely to cause friction within the Conservatives. Speaking in Westminster, Johnson highlighted the threat of four Tory-led councils to launch legal action against the plans,
Johnson, who has previously said he would lie down in front of the bulldozers to stop Heathrow being built, said: “I think the day when the bulldozers actually appear is a long way off, if indeed they ever materialise to build that third runway.Johnson, who has previously said he would lie down in front of the bulldozers to stop Heathrow being built, said: “I think the day when the bulldozers actually appear is a long way off, if indeed they ever materialise to build that third runway.
“My view is the whole proceeding will be snarled up in legal objections of one kind or another and I just really repeat my point: do we want the greatest city on earth, parts of it, to be transformed into a hell of airport noise? I don’t think we do. I think there are far better solutions. As long as I am able to, I am respectfully going to make that point.”“My view is the whole proceeding will be snarled up in legal objections of one kind or another and I just really repeat my point: do we want the greatest city on earth, parts of it, to be transformed into a hell of airport noise? I don’t think we do. I think there are far better solutions. As long as I am able to, I am respectfully going to make that point.”
May’s own local council, Windsor and Maidenhead, is one of those signalling it will 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, is one of those signalling it will 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 one million residents we represent,” said Simon Dudley, the leader of the council.
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, also said he might help challenge the Heathrow decision through the courts, along with councils that are considering their options. The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said he might help 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.” “I am exploring how I can best be involved in any legal process over the coming months,” Khan 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.”
Announcing its backing for the third runway, the government has 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 scheme will now be taken forward in the form of a draft national policy statement, which will be consulted on in the new year. Announcing its backing for the third runway, the government said it would propose a six-and-a-half-hour ban on scheduled night flights and make more stringent night noise restrictions a requirement of expansion includingnew legally binding noise targets. The scheme will now be taken forward in the form of a draft national policy statement, which will be open to consultation in the new year.
However, widespread protests and legal challenges are expected to follow the decision, with campaigners 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 protests and legal challenges are 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.