page_title: Zac Goldsmith
section_title: Joining the Conservatives: 2005–2010
hierarchical_section_title: Zac Goldsmith / Political career / Joining the Conservatives: 2005–2010
caption_attribution_description: Sir Stirling Moss, Zac Goldsmith, HRH The Prince of Wales (Prince Charles) and event founder, Steven Glaser, at the royal launch of Revolve's first annual Eco-Rally at Hampton Court Palace on World Environment Day in June 2007.
context_page_description: Frank Zacharias Robin Goldsmith, Baron Goldsmith of Richmond Park PC is a British politician and journalist who serves as Minister of State for Pacific and the Environment. He was Member of Parliament for Richmond Park from 2017 to 2019, previously holding the seat between 2010 and 2016. A member of the Conservative Party, he was its candidate at the 2016 London mayoral election, which he lost to Sadiq Khan of the Labour Party. Ideologically characterised as having liberal and libertarian views, Goldsmith is known for his environmentalist and localist beliefs.
  Born in London, the son of billionaire businessman and financier Sir James Goldsmith of the Goldsmith family, he was educated at Eton College and the Cambridge Centre for Sixth-form Studies. In 1998, his uncle Edward Goldsmith made him editor of The Ecologist, a position he retained until 2007. Goldsmith was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Quality of Life Policy Group in 2005, co-authoring its report published in 2007.
context_section_description: Goldsmith joined the Conservative Party in 2005. He stated he regarded the Labour Party as "the party of big business", which had evolved into being shaped by big lobbying groups' interests and become too authoritarian and centrist. After the Conservatives lost the 2005 general election to Labour, they elected David Cameron as their new leader. Goldsmith thought highly of Cameron, expressing the view that while he was generally "cynical about politicians", he felt that Cameron was different. Describing Cameron, he said "I don't know David Cameron very well... [but] I like him. I think you can judge a book by its cover... [and] I think the cover is pretty good." Goldsmith's place on the roster of parliamentary candidates was announced around the time of the Conservative Party's 2005 Annual Conference, where he stated he saw no contradiction between his interest in environmental issues and being a Conservative.
  In December 2005, David Cameron approved Goldsmith's appointment as deputy chairman of the Quality of Life Policy Group, under former Environment Secretary John Gummer. The group was tasked with examining quality of life matters such as carbon emissions, climate change, clean air and transport with a view to formulating Conservative policy. The group's 600-page report, jointly authored by Goldsmith and Gummer, was presented at the Royal Institute of British Architects on 13 September 2007. Its proposals included increased taxes on short-haul flights and highly polluting vehicles, with the proceeds being used to cut the cost of clean alternatives; rebates on stamp duty and council tax for people who improved the energy efficiency of their homes; and a moratorium on airport expansions. The report drew criticism from Labour, as well as from UKIP MEP Roger Helmer, who termed the proposals "anti-Conservative", and Conservative MP David Wilshire, who contrary to the Conservative leadership was in favour of a third runway at Heathrow near his Spelthorne constituency. Its proposals also attracted comment from the aviation industry. For Cameron, the report was an important part of rebranding the party to escape its reputation as the "Nasty Party". He pledged many of its recommendations should be included in the Conservative manifesto.
  David Cameron recognised Goldsmith as a good prospective parliamentary candidate and in May 2006 placed him on an 'A-List' of young and diverse candidates whom he wanted to stand for the Conservatives in the 2010 general election. The Conservatives initially placed Goldsmith as their candidate for the safe seat of East Hampshire. Goldsmith felt uneasy about representing this constituency, with which he had no previous connection, and thus pulled out to avoid carpetbagging. He then entered the Richmond Park Conservative Association's open primary, which he won in March 2007.
  In 2007, Goldsmith opposed the opening of a superstore by supermarket chain Sainsbury's in Barnes. He spearheaded a referendum conducted by the Electoral Reform Society to poll local residents on the issue, working closely with a local campaign group. With a turnout of 61.6%, more than 4,000 residents, who made up 85% of the votes cast, came forward to oppose the construction of the store at White Hart Lane. Sainsbury's ultimately opened the branch after revising its planning application.
  In 2008 Goldsmith was asked to comment about donations of £7,000 to his Party while not on the electoral register. Commenting on the issue, Goldsmith explained: "everything has been declared on time and accurately; however, for a few weeks last year I was not on the Electoral Roll, my name having been removed from Kensington and Chelsea's voter list, given that I was in the process of signing up for Richmond.  Whatever was donated in that time may have to be repaid, but there is no suggestion that anything other was improprietous".
  In late 2009, the press asserted that Goldsmith had non-domiciled status and that as a London resident, albeit a discretionary beneficiary, he has use of British properties through a trust set up by his late fath
caption: Sir Stirling Moss, Goldsmith, HRH Prince Charles and event founder Steven Glaser at the launch of the annual Revolve Eco-Rally on U.N. World Environment Day, 3 June 2007.
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