Heathrow was embroiled in a furious row today over an alleged bid to “gerrymander” the constituency of shadow chancellor John McDonnell – an opponent of its third runway plans.
The Labour MP complained to both Commons Speaker John Bercow and the Boundaries Commission over an attempt by pro third runway group Back Heathrow to remove the airport from his Hayes and Harlington constituency.
Mr McDonnell, a vocal critic of expansion at Heathrow, claimed it amounted to an unprecedented attempt by a private company “to fix a local Parliamentary election”.
Earlier this week, the Evening Standard revealed the group was writing to the Boundary Commission, which is reviewing the parliamentary map, to suggest that Mr McDonnell’s constituency be split up.
The group, launched with funding from Heathrow, argued that Mr McDonnell could not properly represent his constituents as many of them rely on the airport for their livelihood.
But he told the Standard: “By seeking to influence a constituency boundary to secure an MP that will effectively become a company lap dog is an outrageous attempt at gerrymandering.”
