THE Green Party's candidate for Brentford & Isleworth claimed Heathrow could be a major vote winner for him as he was unveiled this week.

Daniel Goldsmith was today announced as the group's candidate to take on Conservative MP Mary Macleod and other candidates for the seat in next year's general election.

The 51-year-old IT consultant, who lives in Chiswick, represented the party in the 2011 Feltham & Heston by-election, when he garnered just 426, or less than two per cent, of the total votes.

But the married father of two teenage sons told the Hounslow Chronicle he believed his party's opposition to airport expansion anywhere in the country would stand him in better stead this time around, with a third runway at Heathrow firmly back on the agenda.

"Heathrow's going to be a key issue at the polls and I think voters may be a bit fed up with the flip-flopping from the main parties," he said.

"A third runway would be unacceptable both in terms of the noise and the air pollution it would generate, and only the Green Party can be relied on to prevent the further expansion of Heathrow Airport."

The last Labour government gave its backing to a third runway, only for the High Court to overrule the decision, and the party has since stated its opposition to an extra landing strip at the airport.

The Conservative-led coalition promised a third-runway at Heathrow would not be permitted during this term, but Prime Minister David Cameron has not ruled out allowing one under a future Tory government and last year set up the Airports Commission to examine the need for increased aviation capacity.

Mr Goldsmith said improved European rail links and teleconferencing technology meant there was less need for air travel today and claimed he had only flown on three occasions in the last five years.

Should the Airports Commission decide a new runway is needed, he would not be drawn on where it should be built, saying the Greens were not a NIMBY (not in my back yard) party.

Improving cycling safety and narrowing the gap between rich and poor are among Mr Goldsmith's other key policies.

He said he wanted a blanket 20mph limit on all residential streets and improved safety for cyclists at major junctions.

He also called for a 'more robust attitude' towards ensuring big companies stump up the taxes they are 'morally obliged' to pay.

John Hunt represented the Green Party in Brentford & Isleworth in the 2010 general election, polling 727 votes.