Zac Goldsmith selected as Tory candidate for Mayor of London

Every major party now has an anti-Heathrow candidate.

The Conservative party has confirmed the selection of Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith as their candidate for Mayor of London.

Mr Goldsmith was reelected as MP for Richmond in May 2015 with a huge majority.

With every major political party having now confirmed an anti-Heathrow expansion candidate for next year’s Mayoral election the prospect of delivering a third runway is now more remote than ever.

Zac Goldsmith (Conservative), Sadiq Khan (Labour), Caroline Pidgeon (Lib Dem), Sian Berry (Green) and Peter Whittle (UKIP) have all pledged to use City Hall’s vast influence and resources to block the scheme.

The current mayor, Boris Johnson, stands down after two terms in May next year. He has been totally opposed to Heathrow expansion and wants a new four runway to the east of London.

The election of Mr Goldsmith puts Prime Minister David Cameron in a difficult position after pledging to voters before the election in 2010 that he would not allow a third runway, “no ifs, no buts”.

Mr Cameron made that promise in Richmond with Mr Goldsmith sitting very close to him.

But Mr Cameron backtracked on that pledge and created the Airports Commission who recommended that Heathrow should get a third runway.

Mr Cameron has said that the Government will make a decision by the end of 2015.

If Mr Cameron goes with Heathrow, Mr Goldsmith will resign from his seat in Richmond.

Wandsworth Council leader Ravi Govindia said:

“Every possible winner of next year’s Mayoral race believe as we do that the costs of Heathrow expansion far outweigh the benefits. They agree that the plan is far too damaging to London and the web of legal, environmental, social and political factors blocking its path are too great to overcome. 

“None of these politicians have been taken in by the widely exaggerated economic case used to promote a third runway, and they do all appreciate the very real harm it would do to our communities. Local authorities like Wandsworth will stand shoulder to shoulder with our next mayor in opposing Heathrow.”

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