RICHMOND: MP Susan Kramer steps down from Lib Dem front bench to lead Heathrow fight (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

RICHMOND: MP Susan Kramer steps down from Lib Dem front bench to lead Heathrow fight

12:50pm Friday 9th January 2009 in Search

Richmond Park MP Susan Kramer has announced she is stepping down from the Liberal Democrat's front bench to lead the party’s fight on stopping Heathrow’s expansion.

Mrs Kramer has been the Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park since 2005 and was the party’s families spokesperson in Parliament.

She has taken up her new role to lead the fight on stopping the expansion of Heathrow with immediate effect and her cabinet position has been filled by MP for Cardiff Central, Jenny Willott.

Mrs Kramer said: “I am absolutely thrilled that the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has appointed me to lead the fight on Heathrow.

“With the government announcement on a third runway pending, we need to be geared up to challenge any decision to expand.

“There are just not enough hours in the day at the moment to do everything so I am delighted Nick has allowed me to concentrate on this hugely important campaign.”

The Government is largely expected to approve plans for a third runway at the London airport which would pave the way for flight numbers to double to 600,000 a year.

Environmental campaigners have argued this would have a disastrous effect on pollution and climate change.

Mrs Kramer said: “If the Government do change their minds and reject the plans that would be wonderful but we are prepared to fight this to the death.”