Anti-Heathrow MP's voting gaffe embarrassment (From Your Local Guardian)

Anti-Heathrow MP's voting gaffe embarrassment

8:20am Saturday 31st January 2009

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A Labour MP who campaigned against Heathrow expansion has voted in favour of a third runway - by mistake.

Battersea MP Martin Linton has spoken of his embarrassment at voting the wrong way on Wednesday night, which he said was a “mix-up” for which he was “entirely responsible”.

The next morning his office was bombarded with emails from residents asking why he had not rebelled against his party as planned.

He said: “I feel not a little embarrassed at the confusion this has caused, but I can only say that I remain against a third runway and I shall not miss an opportunity to vote against if one comes up.”

The blunder occurred because two motions were expected - one by the Conservatives asking the government to “think again” on Heathrow and one by the Government supporting the third runway.

Mr Linton did not agree with the Conservatives’ proposals, so his plan was register his protest on the second motion, but this was never put to vote.

He said: “I ended up voting against the Tory motion and not being able to vote against the Government motion. It ended up looking like I supported the third runway when I don’t.”

Upon hearing the news, Linda Leroy, a Battersea resident against the runway, said: “I think it’s terrible. How can you make a mistake in voting? I’m really shocked.

“But I have always known him to be very trustworthy and I think he does have our best interests at heart.”

John Stewart, chair of Heathrow campaign group HACAN ClearSkies, added: “I’m very relieved to hear that it was just a mistake and we trust there will be no further mistakes of this nature.”

Nearly 50 MPs supported the Conservative motion, but it was defeated with a majority of 19.

Mr Linton, 64, has successfully lobbied ministers against increased flights over Battersea, and recently bought a piece of land on the third runway site as part of a Greenpeace campaign to stop the plans.

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