Zac Goldsmith renews vow to trigger a by-election
Zac Goldsmith, MP for Richmond Park has repeated his pledge that if the government chooses the option of expansion at Heathrow he will "trigger a by-election".
Zac Goldsmith MP interviewed in his constituency office
On Friday14th October, Newsnight's Evan Davies rounded off his interview with the MP by asking, "If we get the decision on Tuesday are you going to resign your seat on Tuesday?". He reminded Zac of his pledge on Heathrow and repeated, "Is that going to happen on Tuesday?"
Without hesitation, Zac responded:
“If there is a green light from government, I will trigger a by-election. There’s no ifs, no buts, to pinch David Cameron’s phrase, but the process of that I would rather not go into now because it’s not the story.”
He continued, "The story is that we have two or three days left to try and kill this threat off once and for all and to get the government to see sense and that has to be my priority."
Evan Davies asks Zac about airport expansion in the South East
SHE believes that unlike the hollow promises of some other politicians, the Richmond Park MP will honour his pledge. What seems unlikely is a resignation on the day of an announcement that the government supports Heathrow expansion, if that is, in fact, the option chosen.
Zac will not doubt choose his moment in order to ensure his ultimate goal - to finally kill off the repeated threat that blights so many lives.
During the interview, Zac also dismissed speculation that Boris Johnson and Justine Greening might be wavering in their opposition. He made it clear that under no circumstances would either ever vote for Heathrow expansion and that their "position remains absolutely unchangeable."
Theresa Villiers interviewed in the Newsnight report reinforced her continuing opposition
In the report before the interview with Zac, there was an interview with Theresa Villiers who had visited Sipson village briefly when it was under threat in 2010.
“Thousands of people have their lives shortened every year because of poor air quality. Heathrow cannot comply with those limits, to which we are legally bound. That is one of the reasons why this will be tied up in the courts for years.”
Also in the film was an interview with Kulveer Ranger, who was London Director for Transport Policy when Boris Johnson was London Mayor. He sounded totally unconvincing as he made comments that sounded scripted and frankly bizarre.
With a stilted delivery he said, "As we're finding our way in a new global landscape.....(surely no one really speaks like this - and it doesn't get better)...we need an international hub that can really boost and provide that (brief pause) impertus that this city and the country needs."
"And there's no better time (nervous laugh and forced emphasis) and there have been lots of good times (!) but it has to happen now, it has to be Heathrow."
There may have been some good times for Kulveer when he was working with Boris but there has NEVER been a good time for Heathrow expansion. He should have tried to find his way in the landscape outside his office in City Hall to meet the people suffering the health impacts of a two-runway Heathrow.
Kulveer tweeted that he gave his "2p worth" on the third runway. Clearly he overvalues his contribution to the debate.
