Press Release
7/10/15 for immediate use
Five Mayoral candidates to address ‘biggest ever’ rally against Heathrow Third Runway
10th October. Parliament Square. 10.30am. Speakers start 11am. Finish by 12.30pm
All the candidates to succeed Boris Johnson as Mayor of London from the main political parties will speak at a mass rally against a third runway at Heathrow to be held on 10th October in Parliament Square, opposite the Houses of Parliament. They will be joined by speakers from the local community and from leading environmental organizations. The rally, which organizers believe will be the ‘biggest ever’ against Heathrow expansion, will take place just weeks before David Cameron is expected to make an announcement on a new runway for London and the South East. At present the Cabinet is looking at the recommendation of the Airports Commission that the runway should be built at Heathrow. However, over recent months, the owners of Gatwick have continued to make the case for a second runway at their airport.
John Stewart, chair of HACAN, the campaign group which is one of the main organizers of the rally, said, “Thousands are expected to send a clear message to the Prime Minister that they will fight any decision to give the green light to a new runway at Heathrow. And the message from all the key Mayoral candidates is equally clear. They stand united on this issue. They are all firmly against a third runway.”
Notes for Editors:
The full list of confirmed speakers is (running order yet to be finalised):
John Stewart, Chair HACAN (to welcome and introduce)
John McDonnell Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington
Zac Goldsmith MP for Richmond and North Kingston (and Conservative Mayoral candidate)
Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting (and Labour Mayoral candidate)
Sian Berry, Green Party Mayoral Candidate
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat Mayoral Candidate
Peter Whittle, UKIP Mayoral candidate
John Sauven, Chief Executive of Greenpeace
Gina Parihar, Head of Legal at Friends of the Earth
Tania Mathias, Conservative MP for Twickenham
A long-standing resident from the Heathrow villages who will lose her home
Gyles Brandreth will act as master of ceremonies
ENDS
For further information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650