I blundered in vote, admits MP fighting Heathrow expansion

A LABOUR MP who has campaigned against Heathrow expansion spoke today of his "huge embarrassment" for siding with the Government over plans for a third runway.

Martin Linton stunned his colleagues by voting against a Commons motion urging ministers to reconsider the proposals.

The Battersea MP, 64, who has been an MP for 11 years, had been part of a group which had urged Gordon Brown to reject at the 11th hour the plan for another runway. Today he insisted he had been left high and dry after deciding to vote against the Conservative motion, because he thought there would also be a second vote on the Government's proposals. But only one vote was held, leaving former Guardian journalist Mr Linton appearing to have done a U-turn on his stance on Heathrow. However, he told the Evening Standard: "I'm just hugely embarrassed that I managed to fluff my chance to vote against it. Sometimes funny things happen in Parliament."

As proof of his opposition to expansion, he stressed he had signed up to buy a plot of land on the third runway site as part of Greenpeace's scheme to scupper airport growth.

Meanwhile, Ealing Southall MP Virendra Sharma told why he had resigned as a ministerial aide to vote against the Government. He stressed he felt this was "morally" right.

"I have campaigned against Heathrow expansion and a third runway for a long time as a local councillor and resident of Southall," he said.

Nearly 50 London Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs supported the Tory motion urging ministers to rethink the expansion proposals for the airport or did not vote. The Government won the vote with the support of 28 MPs in the capital, though its majority was cut to just 19. However, this would have been wiped out if 19 Labour MPs, who had signed another similarly worded motion calling on ministers to consider again their aviation policy, had not voted for the Government last night. They included Alan Keen (Feltham & Heston) and Martin Linton (Battersea).

Nine Labour MPs in London voted with the Opposition parties, with seven not voting, including normally loyal MPs Emily Thornberry and Stephen Pound.

Shadow London minister Justine Greening said: "MPs representing millions of Londoners have spoken. The vast majority have not given support for a third runway at Heathrow.."

However, some MPs argued that Heathrow needed to expand to remain an international hub airport and support the economy. Mr Keen defended his decision not to go into the voting lobby with the Tories by insisting they had made the debate "party politic". His wife, Ann Keen, Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth, also voted against the motion.

HOW THEY VOTED

For Opposition motion calling for a rethink on Heathrow third runway

Labour: Diane Abbott (Hackney N & Stoke Newington); Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead); Jeremy Corbyn (Islington N); Frank Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras); Kate Hoey (Vauxhall); John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington); Nick Raynsford (Greenwich & Woolwich); Virendra Sharma (Ealing Southall); Andrew Slaughter (Ealing Acton & Shepherd's Bush) Conservative: David Burrowes (Enfield S'thgate); Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford & Woodford Gn); Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet); David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford); Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster); Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell); Justine Greening (Putney); Greg Hands (H'smith & Fulham); John Horam (Orpington); Nick Hurd (Ruislip Northwood); Jacqui Lait (Beckenham); Richard Ottaway (Croydon S); Andrew Pelling (Croydon C); John Randall (Uxbridge); Andrew Rosindell (Romford); Lee Scott (Ilford N); Ian Taylor (Esher and Walton); Bob Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst); James Brokenshire (Hornchurch); Sir Malcolm Rifkind (Kensington & Chelsea); Angela Watkinson (Upminster); Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) Liberal Democrat: Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington); Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam); Vince Cable (Twickenham); Ed Davey (Kingston & Surbiton); Lynne Featherstone (Horsney & Wood Gn); Simon Hughes (Southwark N & Bermondsey); Susan Kramer (Richmond Pk); Sarah Teather (Brent E)

Against the motion

Labour: Dawn Butler (Brent S); Andrew Dismore (Hendon); Clive Efford (Eltham); Mike Gapes (Ilford S); Barry Gardiner (Brent N); Harriet Harman (Camberwell & P'kham); Keith Hill (Streatham); Meg Hillier (Hackney S & Shoreditch); Margaret Hodge (Barking); Glenda Jackson (H'stead & Highgate); Tessa Jowell ( Dulwich & W Norw'd); Alan Keen (Feltham & Heston); Ann Keen (Brentf'd & Islew'th); Sadiq Khan (Tooting); David Lammy (Tottenham); Martin Linton (Battersea); Andrew Love (Edmonton); Tony McNulty (Harrow E); Joan Ruddock (Lewisham Deptf'd); Joan Ryan (Enfield N); Gareth Thomas (Harrow W); Malcolm Wicks (Croydon N); Stephen Timms (East Ham); Bridget Prentice (Lewisham E); Jim Dowd (Lewisham W); Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham & Morden); Jim Fitzpatrick (Polar & Canning Town); Lyn Brown (West Ham)

Did not vote

Labour: John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead); Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North); Jon Cruddas (Dagenham); Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow); Stephen Pound (Ealing North); Emily Thornberry (Islington S & Finsbury); Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green) Conservative: David Wilshire (Spelthorne) Independent: Derek Conway (Old Bexley & Sidcup); George Galloway (Bethnal Green & Bow)