The two London rival mayoral candidates united to rally against a third runway at Heathrow Airport at a protest today.
Zac Goldsmith and Sadiq Khan put aside party politics and addressed hundreds of protesters in Parliament Square, central London.
Mr Goldsmith vowed to step down as MP for Richmond if the proposed £19bn scheme got the go-ahead from the government.
He told SW Londoner: “I don’t believe it’s possible to reconcile Heathrow expansion with any of the air quality targets that we have in this country.”
Mr Khan said that the Gatwick expansion proposal should be considered instead.
The Labour London mayoral candidate told SW Londoner: “What we need is a better Heathrow, not a bigger one.”
“It would lead to jobs and growth without the same problems, noise and infrastructure that a new Heathrow runway would.”
The Airport Commission’s report, led by Sir Howard Davies, recommended that Heathrow rather than Gatwick would be a better site for the new runway.
Mr Goldsmith said: “I always felt that Howard Davies began with a position, went through the process and ended up exactly where they started.”
David Cameron is due to make a decision about airport expansion in a few weeks’ time.
Liberal Democrat Caroline Pidgeon, Green candidate Sian Berry and UKIP’s Peter Whittle also took turns in addressing the crowds.
