Candidates commit to Heathrow fight
THE Conservative politicians fighting to be the next Mayor of London say they will defy their Government over the Heathrow Airport expansion plans.
Shaun Bailey, Andrew Boff and Joy Morrissey all oppose £14million plans to build a third runway at the airport, which was approved in June.
The trio are each hoping to be selected as the final candidate ahead of the London Mayoral race in 2020.
Mr Bailey, a current Greater London Authority member, said: “I have opposed the Third Runway for over a decade, still oppose it, always will.”
Meanwhile Mr Boff, who also sits on the GLA, said: “I opposed the third runway as a Hillingdon party member in the 70’s as a Councillor in the 80’s as Council Leader in the 90’s as an Assembly member in the 2000’s and will do as Mayor in the 2020s. “It will not happen.”
Ms Morrisey, a current local councillor, says she committed to working with Hillingdon, Richmond and other London boroughs which would be affected to stop the plans.
Paul McGuinness, chairman of the No 3rd Runway Coalition, who are campaigning against the expansion praised the potential candidates.
Mr McGuinness said: “This is a no-brainer position by these candidates who are showing they are keen to reflect London’s view, supported by referendums on expansion in two boroughs which saw very strong margins against expansion.
“Whichever of the three candidates is chosen, it is clear that they are keen carry the opposition to Heathrow expansion into the ballot box.”
The London Assembly and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan have also vowed to keep fighting against the expansion.
Earlier this month, environmental charities Plan B and Friends of the Earth, as well as a number of local authorities, applied for judicial reviews into the expansion on the grounds that it will have a significant effect on air quality and climate change.