The husband of the anti-Heathrow expansion Liberal Democrat candidate in the Richmond Park byelection helped build Terminal 5 at Heathrow, it has been revealed.

According to LinkedIn Ben Olney, the husband of Sarah Olney, worked for Heathrow Airport Holdings – formerly BAA – between December 2003 and March 2007, helping to complete the new terminal.

Ms Olney had previously said: “Only a vote for the Liberal Democrats will make a stand against Heathrow and Brexit, not to mention the scandalous underfunding of the NHS.”

A Liberal Democrat spokesman said: “Sarah’s husband worked on this project a decade ago after it was signed off, and since then has turned down work on the third runway because he agrees Heathrow expansion has gone far enough.

“This election is happening because Zac Goldsmith failed to persuade his Conservative colleagues to oppose Heathrow expansion.

“The best way to stop a third runway is to send a shockwave through this government by electing a Liberal Democrat MP on December 1.”

Zac Goldsmith, who Ms Olney is fighting for the Richmond Park seat, declined to comment, saying it was a matter for the Lib Dems.