Murnaghan Interview with Zac Goldsmith, Independent candidate in Richmond Park by-election, 27.11.16

ANY QUOTES USED MUST BE ATTRBUTED TO MURNAGHAN, SKY NEWS

SOPHY RIDGE: Next week will see the result of the by-election in Richmond, sparked by MP Zac Goldsmith deciding to resign from the Conservative party over Heathrow expansion but despite Heathrow and noise pollution being the official reason for the contest, the Liberal and Democrat and Labour candidates are clear that on the doorstep, Brexit is the main concern in this constituency where 72% of people voted to remain in the EU.  Well I took a trip to Richmond and I started off by speaking to Zac Goldsmith who backed Leave and asked him if he could really run as the anti-Heathrow choice when all the main candidates are in opposition to a third runway?

ZAC GOLDSMITH: You could have any candidate from any party and they are all going to be opposed to Heathrow expansion in this constituency, the issue is not just about passive opposition, it’s about who’s going to win this campaign and there is a reason why the Heathrow villagers whose homes are going to be destroyed if it goes ahead are knocking on doors for me, they have never backed a candidate in any election before, there’s a reason why all the anti-third runway campaign groups who have been assiduously apolitical for years are knocking on doors for me, publicly endorsing me, taking a risk in doing so and there is a reason why Heathrow has pointed its finger at me as the main obstacle.  I am the person who is most likely to see off this and people know that so if I get a big green light from my constituents despite the kitchen sink having been thrown at me by the Lib Dems, that will be a big mandate no matter how big the majority.

SR: Are you trying to pull the wool over voters eyes a little bit here though because the Conservatives aren’t running a candidate against you, you’ve had Conservative MPs out campaigning for you, you are just the de facto Conservative candidate aren’t you?

ZAC GOLDSMITH: Well there is a reason why there isn’t a Conservative candidate – and I am very happy there isn’t …

SR: They don’t want to split the vote.

ZAC GOLDSMITH: It’s not that actually, it’s because the local Conservative group, all the councillors, all the Association members collectively and individually, wrote to the party centre and said even if you put up a Conservative candidate we are going to back Zac.  That would have meant the entire party would have had to have been expelled from the party, it would have been the end of the Conservative party in this part of the world. Now I loved that they did that.  One, it means there is no Conservative candidate and doesn’t test people’s loyalties but two, I love the fact that local Conservatives feel as passionately and strongly about this issue as I do, they are willing to be expelled from the party, damaging their careers, on principle and that is a wonderful thing in politics, it is also very rare in politics.  

SR: So if you say you are not the Conservative candidate will you take this opportunity to rule out ever re-joining the Conservative party?

ZAC GOLDSMITH: I have just said I am not the Conservative candidate, I am not the Conservative candidate, I am the Independent candidate in this contest.

SR: So are you going to stay Independent?

ZAC GOLDSMITH: Absolutely, I don’t believe people should cross the floor without going back to their electorate in a by-election so I can absolutely assure you that …

SR: There is a big of wiggle room there though isn’t there? If you have another election you could be …

ZAC GOLDSMITH: Not at all, I can absolutely guarantee, I can guarantee I will not be asking people to take part in another by-election.  I don’t do this for fun, no one likes elections, they’re not fun …

SR: How about a general election?

ZAC GOLDSMITH: ... they are things designed to get you elected to be able to do the things you want to do.  That’s why I’m signing in this election.

SR: What about a general election?

ZAC GOLDSMITH: You show me a politician in the world who can talk two, three elections ahead, I’m not going to do that.  I’ve got a massive campaign on my hands, I’ve got a massive challenge for the next week.  If I am elected I will be the Independent, I’ll be the Independent all the way through this parliament.  Who knows if I’ll even stand in the next election?  It will be the height of arrogance to start putting this one in the bag and working out what I’m going to do at the next one and the one after that, I’m just not going to do that.

SR: So the door is still slightly open then.

ZAC GOLDSMITH: I could join the Monster Raving Loony party in five years’ time and I’m not thinking ahead that far.  My job is to get elected now, send a message to government and win this campaign.  

SR: Speaking about how you do handle the government if you get elected again, you of course voted to Leave the European Union, what do you make of how Theresa May is getting on trying to deliver Brexit?

ZAC GOLDSMITH: Look, I have said I don't think the government should be bickering with the judges after the ruling we had a few weeks ago, I don’t see any upside in that at all.  I think this is an issue that should go to parliament but I would caution parliament against trying to block votes.  I don't think incidentally that there is any prospect of that happening, you could send 15, 20 new Lib Dem MPs to parliament, it’s not going to stop Brexit from happening. I think the leading Remain campaigners in parliament, people like Hilary Benn, have made that very clear, that the issue now is what kind of Brexit, what role Parliament will have in that process and I think parliament should have a role of course.  I was a parliamentarian, I hope to become one in a weeks’ time, I think parliament has a big role to play.

SR: And what’s your view on where we should end up?  Should we be in the single market, should we be in the customs union?

ZAC GOLDSMITH: Like you, like everyone watching this programme, it is frustrating that we can’t see the details of the negotiations, the government has got its cards close to its chest.  That is frustrating but it is also right, the government should have its cards close to its chest.  As we repeal and repatriate the laws that are relevant to Britain’s base in Europe at the moment, they will go through the same level of parliamentary scrutiny as any other legislation and I hope to be there to take part in that, I have a particular interest in environmental rules and regulations for example.  The final deal has to involve good access but it is a spectrum, good access to the single market combined with more control over our borders but there is a tension there and it is for the government to work out the best possible deal.  But I think Theresa May made a catastrophically bad decision in relation to airports but I think she is an evidence based person, I think she is a level headed person and I think her and her team will do a good job.

SR: But she shouldn’t be fighting the judges on Brexit?

ZAC GOLDSMITH: I don't think so, no.  I just think it’s a time wasting exercise, it’s the wrong look for the government, I don't think there are any really strong arguments against it.