London's New Runway - Zac Goldsmith loses seat to Liberals

Originally Posted by Damien

stopped by a million lawsuits.

Lawsuits brought by "local" protest groups which are actually a front for all the usual soap-dodging suspects, who, once they have had their day in court and lost, will then resort to building tree houses and protest tunnels all over the site while the authorities stand back and let them get on wth it. Having allowed crusty to get himself well dug in, the government will then apply to the courts to have him removed, and when the court has reserved judgment for a few months and then decided crusty has to go, then heard the appeal, then heard the last minute emergency severe hardship appeal because Ms crusty has just given birth while attached to her lock-in, the whole pantomime of digging him out can get underway.

Only then can any runway-building actually happen. Except it can't, because that's when a rare population of great crested newts is discovered right in the middle of the site.

I'd say 2030 is optimistic.

Originally Posted by Chris

Lawsuits brought by "local" protest groups which are actually a front for all the usual soap-dodging suspects, who, once they have had their day in court and lost, will then resort to building tree houses and protest tunnels all over the site while the authorities stand back and let them get on wth it. Having allowed crusty to get himself well dug in, the government will then apply to the courts to have him removed, and when the court has reserved judgment for a few months and then decided crusty has to go, the whole pantomime of digging him out can get underway.

Only then can any runway-building actually happen. Except it can't, because that's when a rare population of great crested newts is discovered right in the middle of the site.

I'd say 2030 is optimistic.

I think there will be lots of NIMBYism lawsuits as well. And now a by-election from Goldsmith.

---------- Post added at 12:10 ---------- Previous post was at 11:27 ----------

Goldsmith has now resigned. By-election. Be interesting if he stands as an independent against a Tory candidate. It's a safe seat but not that safe. It's an area which the Lib Dems might seek a shock win if the Tory vote is split.

So why not increase capacity somewhere else in the country? Why only Gatwick or Heathrow..Spread the chance of profits across the country. Who wouldn't rather use their local airport rather than travel halfway across the country towards London?

Originally Posted by Maggy J

So why not increase capacity somewhere else in the country? Why only Gatwick or Heathrow..Spread the chance of profits across the country. Who wouldn't rather use their local airport rather than travel halfway across the country towards London?

Because London is where the additional capacity is needed. The airport is meeting the demand, not causing it.

Business travelers are more likely to want to go to London, there will be more connecting flights from London as well for Heathrow to be a hub. The demand isn't being caused by people going on holiday.

Originally Posted by Maggy J

So why not increase capacity somewhere else in the country? Why only Gatwick or Heathrow..Spread the chance of profits across the country. Who wouldn't rather use their local airport rather than travel halfway across the country towards London?

Because Heathrow operates a hub and spoke model. Long haul destinations are served from there. It is inefficient, in most cases, to operate long haul flights to the same destination from multiple airports that are located close together. That's why it has to be Heathrow; the infrastructure and services are already there, and the new runway can be built more quickly than Boris Island could be put into the Thames estuary. Every day we have delayed this, other airports (Schiphol, Paris CDG) have been working hard to steal business. They, too, are hub-and-spoke airports, and they are located close enough to LHR that their competition could result in flights shifting there.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Damien

I think there will be lots of NIMBYism lawsuits as well. And now a by-election from Goldsmith.

---------- Post added at 12:10 ---------- Previous post was at 11:27 ----------

Goldsmith has now resigned. By-election. Be interesting if he stands as an independent against a Tory candidate. It's a safe seat but not that safe. It's an area which the Lib Dems might seek a shock win if the Tory vote is split.

I thought they might put it of to avoid the by election, quite impressed they put the countries needs above their own self interest, unless of course they've done a deal with zach where he won't stand as an indy because I doubt they'd keep the seat if he did

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

I thought they might put it of to avoid the by election, quite impressed they put the countries needs above their own self interest, unless of course they've done a deal with zach where he won't stand as an indy because I doubt they'd keep the seat if he did

Or the Tories let him run uncontested. Might be worth a shot. They probably wouldn't win so it's a choice between Goldsmith as an Independent who'll vote with them 99% of the time or risking a Lib Dem who'll vote against them. Not to mention the headache of Liberal Democrats picking up seats from them in Remain areas.

[Hom3r]

[INTERNAL SWEAR FILTER OFF]

[RANT ON]
I can't say want I truley belive because the swear filter would explode and I'd get a pemanet ban.

I personal think Stansted should have been chosen, had it happened I would not have lost my job because the company I worked for then decided to move to Belgium making nearly 100 Brits redundants.

The blame was 1000000% the NIMBYs who moved next to a major airport and protest.

IMHO they should have been told to go forth an multiply, they have no rights or say if they moved next to a airport within the last 20 years.

With regards to Heathrow the govenment need to grow a pair of balls and build ASAP, the MPs should back or quit (and my NOT pro Tory).

I have nothing but contempt for the NIMBY **** that don't care about jobs and think they have more rights than the tens of thounds that rely on their local airport for work, be it working there or in companies that support the airport and businesses in and around the airport

[RANT OFF]

[INTERNAL SWEAR FILTER ON]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

I personal think Stansted should have been chosen, had it happened I would not have lost my job because the company I worked for then decided to move to Belgium making nearly 100 Brits redundants.

Stansted need to address the amount of passengers they already have before they can be considered for another runway. That probably held them back as well. I had to travel a lot from Stansted this year, at one point weekly, and it's the most packed airport i've flown from in the UK. Long lines for check in, for security and packed terminal. They need another terminal if they increase their flights imo.

The Liberal Democrats have won the seat overturning a massive majority:

Richmond Park result:
LDEM: 49.7% (+30.4)
ZAC: 45.2% (-13.1)
LAB: 3.7% (-8.7)

That backfired for Goldsmith somewhat. Many Labour voters also wanted further retribution for the way he ran his Mayoral campaign.

[Mr K]

Terrible shame Zac's not a bad man but his mayoral campaign was disgraceful.

How much is this is to do with Heathrow and how much the way the Govt. is cack handingly Brexiting is hard to say. Probably a combination of both. Don't think this is any great new love for the Lib Dems; they're still in single figures in the national polls.

[Kursk]

Too many issues for this to be indicative of anything. Of course, that grasping windbag Farron will say it's about brexit (and wraith-like Old Nick was in attendance to associate himself with a libdem 'victory'). Sad really.

[Osem]

Wow, upper/middle class constituency which voted against Brexit in the referendum votes the same way in a token bye election. Clearly HMG must change tack!

Originally Posted by Mr K

.

How much is this is to do with Heathrow and how much the way the Govt. is cack handingly Brexiting is hard to say. Probably a combination of both. Don't think this is any great new love for the Lib Dems; they're still in single figures in the national polls.

The Lib Dems have been out performing the national polls so it's hard to know what is happening. For them though this is about some semblance of recovery, they'll be delighted to get back to even half of where they were.

[Kursk]

Originally Posted by Osem

Wow, upper/middle class constituency which voted against Brexit in the referendum votes the same way in a token bye election. Clearly HMG must change tack!

In a low turn out with no Tory candidate a toothy mum with minimal experience in politics had a cup of tea to celebrate that she is a resident of Richmond. Oh ya. .