Former Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith has been appointed spokesman and organiser of the anti-third runway campaign by Richmond, Wandsworth, Hillingdon and Windsor and Maidenhead councils. 

The appointment was announced at Richmond Council's full council meeting tonight (Tuesday, January 17). 

A revised motion put forward by leader Lord True read: "(This council) endorses the appointment of Zac Goldsmith as spokesman and organiser for the public and legal campaign being waged by Richmond, Wandsworth, Windsor & Maidenhead and Hillingdon councils against the expansion of Heathrow and calls upon all elected representatives to give full assistance to Mr Goldsmith in this campaign."

Zac Goldsmith said: “The arguments against Heathrow expansion are overwhelming, but alone they aren’t going to win this campaign.

"That’s why the legal action launched by the four heroic councils is so crucial.

"I am honoured to have been asked to support their campaign, and will do all I can to ensure we win. I am confident we will.”

Richmond's Liberal Democrat opposition leader Gareth Roberts said he would support Mr Goldsmith's appointment. 

Richmond's sole Labour councillor, Jennifer Churchill, said she would not, saying Mr Goldsmith is "not a unifying figure". 

John Stewart, chairman of anti-expansion group HACAN, welcomed the appointment, saying it will "add significantly" to the strength of the wider campaign against a third runway.

Mr Goldsmith's role will be an unpaid one.

Lord True's motion also rejected the government's recommendation to build a third runway, and reaffirmed the council's commitment of £50,000 to an "initial fighting fund" against Heathrow expansion.