By John Talliday-

The MP has always campaigned against expanding Heathrow, but resignation over the issue is just ridiculous. Political decisions are not always going to be agreed by everybody, but resignation over a decision is not right

 Chris Grayling, the transport secretary has ruled out any rethink of the policy to expand the airport.

The Department for Transport says a new runway will benefit passengers and boost the wider economy by up to £61 bn, creating as many as 77,000 local jobs over the next 14 years.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said his party would be “taking the fight” to MP Mr Goldsmith and will also be putting huge pressure on the prime minister to abandon her Heathrow plans. However, it is very unlikely that Theresa May will change her decision.Decisions like these are not taken lightly, so it can be assumed that May and her team gave this very serious consideration before going ahead with it. The UK prime minister has enough on her plate, especially with the very challenging Brexit assignment before her.

 Grayling told a school in his constituency that he was always determined to see the new runway built.

He said: “I promised you if my party won the election, the third runway would be scrapped. And I wasn’t making it up.”

He added: “There was no small print, no expiry date, no ambiguity. It was a simple promise. And it mattered. I know it mattered because the thought of Heathrow expansion fills most of my constituents with dread.”

However, Mr Goldsmith said in protest, that the government had chosen the “most polluting, most disruptive, most expensive option” but it had “also chosen the option with the least chance of being delivered”.

He added: “The sheer complexity, cost and legal difficulties mean it is unlikely ever to happen. It will be a millstone round this government’s neck for years.”

He added: “That’s why we have delivered on our manifesto commitment to respond to the Airports Commission’s final report and have announced our support for the first full-length runway in the South East since the Second World War.

“We disagree with Zac about the need for a by-election in light of this decision, but understand his position. He has been a hard-working champion for the people of Richmond Park – as we know, he will continue to be if they re-elect him as their Member of Parliament – so we will not be putting up a candidate against him at this by-election.”

 That stance is a bit soft because if Mr. Goldsmith chose to resign over a well-considered plan by the government, then he should simply be replaced with no other issues arising. Goldsmith the MP may indeed be a hardworking man, but hard work alone has never been the key to long term success or leadership qualities. In light of the division that rocked the Conservative party of the referendum, the last thing the party needs is another cause for division, which Goldsmith’s action could potentially have provoked.

Both the Conservative and the Labour party’s have endured bitter splits that shook the unity of the party and questioned the leadership and aggregate vision too.

The decision to build a third runway in Heathrow airport is ambitious and may pay off. Without concrete evidence that an initiative is doomed to failure, innovative plans should generally be supported.Mr. Goldsmith is following his heart, but the decision to resign over his disagreement with the decision for a third Heathrow runway is still ridiculous.