Keen fails constituents on night flights

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 25th Oct 2005

Andrew Dakers (Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Brentford & Isleworth) has today accused Ann Keen MP of failing to represent her constituents' interests on night flights and offering no real support to the movement against airport expansion. This comes hours after the local MP spoke at the "Stop Night Flights" rally at Westminster on Monday night.

In a letter to Mrs Keen, Dakers writes:

"As you voted against a key amendment (Clause 2 - Division 50) to the Civil Aviation Bill on 10 October I was baffled to hear you say at Monday night's rally that you want any more letters from constituents on the subject of aircraft noise and night flights. Clearly you ignore our views anyway, and are instead swept along by the short term interests of an airline industry set on expansion.

"I hope this does not mean your ministerial ambitions take precedent over the well founded ambitions of your constituents for a decent night's sleep."

Dakers added:

"I'm encouraged that your Labour colleague John McDonnell (MP for Hayes and Harlington) had the guts to vote for the amendment and did the job he was elected to: that of representing his constituents' interests. On an issue as significant as night flights and airport expansion your regular excuse that as a Parliamentary Private Secretary you must always follow the government line is simply not good enough. This is a matter of such importance to the people of this constituency you must start prioritising our needs."

Related Link:

Background on the ammendment from PublicWhip.org.uk