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PM faces enormous Heathrow bust-up, says Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith PM faces enormous Heathrow bust-up, says Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron will face an "enormous bust-up" if he contests the next election promising to expand Heathrow, Tory MP Zac Goldsmith has said.David Cameron will face an "enormous bust-up" if he contests the next election promising to expand Heathrow, Tory MP Zac Goldsmith has said.
Mr Goldsmith repeated his promise to trigger a by-election in his Richmond Park constituency if his party drops its opposition to building a third runway at the west London airport.Mr Goldsmith repeated his promise to trigger a by-election in his Richmond Park constituency if his party drops its opposition to building a third runway at the west London airport.
A commission has listed this among the UK's options to expand capacity.A commission has listed this among the UK's options to expand capacity.
But Mr Goldsmith said he hoped his party would reject the idea.But Mr Goldsmith said he hoped his party would reject the idea.
The three options shortlisted in an interim report by the independent Airports Commission are:The three options shortlisted in an interim report by the independent Airports Commission are:
But Mr Goldsmith told the BBC News the commission's chairman, Sir Howard Davies, seemed to have adopted the view of airport operator BAA, which wants to increase Heathrow's capacity, "hook, line and sinker".But Mr Goldsmith told the BBC News the commission's chairman, Sir Howard Davies, seemed to have adopted the view of airport operator BAA, which wants to increase Heathrow's capacity, "hook, line and sinker".
'Off the fence''Off the fence'
Prior to the 2010 general election, the Labour government backed building a third runway at Heathrow, but the Conservative manifesto promised to "stop" this.Prior to the 2010 general election, the Labour government backed building a third runway at Heathrow, but the Conservative manifesto promised to "stop" this.
The later coalition agreement reached with the Liberal Democrats, who also oppose expansion, stated: "We will cancel the third runway at Heathrow."The later coalition agreement reached with the Liberal Democrats, who also oppose expansion, stated: "We will cancel the third runway at Heathrow."
Labour has not set out its position since then, and shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh said the party would not rule any runway options in or out while the Davies commission was still deliberating.Labour has not set out its position since then, and shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh said the party would not rule any runway options in or out while the Davies commission was still deliberating.
But the government and opposition have come under increasing pressure to change their minds recently, with airport capacity in south-east England becoming more over-stretched.But the government and opposition have come under increasing pressure to change their minds recently, with airport capacity in south-east England becoming more over-stretched.
Sir Howard's final recommendations will be published shortly before the 2015 general election.Sir Howard's final recommendations will be published shortly before the 2015 general election.
Mr Goldsmith said the main political parties would have to "get off the fence" when compiling their manifestos, as it was "not possible to enter the next election with ambiguity".Mr Goldsmith said the main political parties would have to "get off the fence" when compiling their manifestos, as it was "not possible to enter the next election with ambiguity".
He added: "I think there could be an enormous bust-up on this issue. I think David Cameron is aware just how big this could be for him.He added: "I think there could be an enormous bust-up on this issue. I think David Cameron is aware just how big this could be for him.
"This is about political credibility... something all politicians want, but pretty much all of them lack.""This is about political credibility... something all politicians want, but pretty much all of them lack."
Conservative Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday: "What we said at the last general election was that we would not build a third runway in this parliament.Conservative Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday: "What we said at the last general election was that we would not build a third runway in this parliament.
"We will not be building a third runway in this parliament. We will stick by our manifesto commitment.""We will not be building a third runway in this parliament. We will stick by our manifesto commitment."
He said it was "right for the long-term future of the United Kingdom" that the Airports Commission had been established, and was doing "a proper and comprehensive job" of investigating the issue.He said it was "right for the long-term future of the United Kingdom" that the Airports Commission had been established, and was doing "a proper and comprehensive job" of investigating the issue.
Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander told BBC News his party was "sticking" to its position of opposing a new runway at Heathrow.
He added: "We've always opposed airport expansion in the South East for environmental reasons and it's that environmental test we will apply to [Sir Howard's] final report."