Tory MP Zac Goldsmith vows to resign if Theresa May gives green light to a third runway at Heathrow

MULTI-MILLIONAIRE Tory MP Zac Goldsmith will resign his Commons seat in protest if Theresa May gives the green light to Heathrow expansion.

And he said she risks losing MPs and councils if she backs a new runway at the airport as voters show their anger at the ballot box.

The Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith, whose constituency is under the flightpath, said expanding the west London hub would prove to be a "political millstone" for the Prime Minister and urged her to reconsider.

Mrs May is set to make a decision on whether to back a new runway at Heathrow or Gatwick, or both, very shortly, and possibly as early as next week.

Mr Goldsmith, who has promised to resign if Heathrow is expanded, wrote in the Sunday Telegraph: "There is no doubt that despite huge gains against the Liberal Democrats in west London in recent years, the Conservative Party would be badly damaged in the event that Heathrow gets a green light.

"I promised voters I would step down and hold a by-election if Heathrow gets the go-ahead and I will stand by that pledge, but the fallout will be much wider, and it will be hard for our brilliant local councils to weather the storm.

"That's not just a party issue.

"If I were investing in Heathrow, it would worry me greatly because there is a very real risk that as soon as the polls tighten, the party will feel the need to reverse its policy, yet again."

He added: "But there is cause for optimism, and that is our new Prime Minister.

“Theresa May is not the kind of person to be spoon-fed lines by entrenched officials.

"If she carefully examines the evidence, she will see that an unbuildable third runway at Heathrow will not only be a political millstone for her premiership and beyond, but, more importantly, will fail the country at a time when business wants to see action."

He would stand as an independent candidate after triggering a by-election in his constituency if Heathrow gets the go-ahead.

The 41-year-old had a 23,015 majority in last year’s general election and would be expected to win a by-election – with the support of his constituents who are opposed to extra aircraft noise and pollution.

It comes after Mr Goldsmith said Mrs May would have to offer the Tories a free vote or give leave for Boris Johnson and Justine Greening to be absent from the Commons if she wanted to expand Heathrow, because the pair remain resolutely opposed to the plan.

The Prime Minister is widely tipped to make a decision on whether to back a new runway at Heathrow or Gatwick, or both, next week.

The situation could prove awkward for the pair and Mrs May as Cabinet ministers are supposed to uphold collective responsibility and back the Government's decisions, including in Commons votes.