Zac Goldsmith vows to trigger by-election in ‘snap poll’ if Government approves Heathrow third runway
TORY Zac Goldsmith will trigger an explosive by-election today if the government green lights Heathrow expansion.
LATEST: Zac Goldsmith is to ‘honour his pledge’ and resign
A source close to the Richmond Park MP told the Sun “he will hand the Chancellor his resignation from the Commons on Tuesday afternoon if he has to."
The threat came as Theresa May was poised to give the go ahead to Heathrow ahead of a crunch Cabinet committee meeting to decide Britain’s aviation future.
The environment-loving MP has vowed to stick by his pledge to trigger a fresh contest for his West London seat that lies under the proposed new flight path.
But Tory insiders fear a Lib Dem challenge could dent the PM’s already wafer thin Commons majority if they put up a candidate against the outspoken greeny.
The pal added: “Zac is deadly serious about this, if the government sign up to expanding Heathrow he will put the issue on the ballot paper in a by-election starting this week.”
Mr Goldsmith has consistently pledged to resign if the government gave the go ahead to a new runway Heathrow.
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By-elections are triggered by MPs writing to the Chancellor and being appointed to an ancient Royal role that you’re not allowed to take up as an MP.
Tonight No10 insisted that no final decision had been made, but Mr Goldsmith’s team were already in the advanced stages of planning for a snap poll in the leafy London suburb.
Last year Mr Goldsmith said: “I made a pledge in 2008 to my constituents that if the Conservative party in government gave a green light to expansion I would trigger a by-election.”
“I did that shortly after David Cameron came to Richmond and said no ifs, no buts, there will be no Heathrow expansion.
“People loved what they heard.”
He added that it “is a promise I would absolutely be obliged to honour.
“It is not something I would want to do.
“But I would be obliged to do it.”
Keen to avoid a Cabinet bust up, the PM will not expect long standing critics of airport expansion to publicly back the government’s decision.
Instead they will allowed to voice their “long held” concerns for a “limited time”.
First thing on Tuesday morning the Cabinet sub-committee responsible for airport expansion will meet at Downing Street.
Chaired by Theresa May, the nine strong body will confirm which airport will get the go ahead before a full meeting of Cabinet at 09:30.
After that the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling will reveal to the House of Commons whether Heathrow or Gatwick have been given the go ahead.
But the process will then be put to a full public consultation with a Commons vote on the issue not expected until winter 2017.
Ministers like Boris Johnson and Education Secretary Justine Greening - who have long campaigned against Heathrow - will be allowed a limited time to speak out if the West London airport gets the nod.
However No 10 were tonight still unclear whether the PM would grant her party a free vote on the controversial plans.