Zac Goldsmith: Voters would not forgive Tory U-turn

Zac Goldsmith today attacked the Government for allowing Heathrow expansion back on to the political agenda.

The Conservative MP for Richmond Park warned that the apparent U-turn on aviation policy could damage his party at the next general election.

After the interim report by the Davies commission listed Heathrow expansion as an option, Mr Goldsmith said: “At the last election, David Cameron came to Richmond and to all the other constituencies affected for one reason: to look people in the eye and tell them ‘No ifs, no buts, there will be no third runway.’ It was as clear as a promise as a political promise can be.”

He believes that was key to the success of west London Tories three years ago; green campaigner Goldsmith won his seat from the Lib-Dems.

“It settled people’s choices in many cases. A lot of people voted for me on the back of that promise,” he said.

In 2010 the Government scrapped Labour’s commitment to a third runway, but from early last year there were signs ministers were preparing a U-turn. The Chancellor is known to favour Heathrow expansion. “George Osborne isn’t a free-market Tory, he’s a corporatist, so it’s not surprising that he would favour the creation of a vast monopoly,” said Mr Goldsmith.

Last weekend Transport Secretary Patrick McCoughlin said the Tories intended to stick to their pledge of no airport expansion in this Parliament — although he would not rule out a new runway beyond 2015. Mr Goldsmith said: “I don’t think people would ever forgive the Conservative Party were it to perform that kind of U-turn.”

The Tories hold a series of vulnerable seats in west London.

Mr Goldsmith sees the report as the end of the estuary airport proposal: “I suspect Boris’s plan has been stuck on the end to keep him quiet. I’d be amazed if that was in last week’s early draft.”

Now he wants all major parties to take a clear position on Heathrow before the election and the Commission’s final report in summer 2015. Mr Goldsmith also restated a threat he has made before: “If the Government this side of the election provides a green light for Heathrow expansion, I will trigger a by-election.”

On speculation that the MP has discussed standing down to give Mr Johnson a way back into Parliament, he said: “It’s not true. I have absolutely zero intention of walking away from my commitments.”