PATRICK McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary, has given the clearest indication yet that the UK Government is minded to reject a third runway at Heathrow Airport, costing £19 billion.
The deeply contentious issue of airport expansion in southern England is due to come to a head before Christmas when David Cameron gives the Conservative administration’s formal response to the Davies Commission report, which has recommended expanding Heathrow not Gatwick.
Commenting on the issue, Mr McLoughlin appeared to drop a heavy hint, talking about how the Commission had presented “options”.
“We are looking at the options it gave us,” explained the Secretary of State. “We are doing the work required to see how these three options stack up.”
He added: “Yes, it has come forward with a preferred option but it is right that we listen to the representations we are getting but also see that some of the things that are suggested in the report are actually do-able."
The Prime Minister famously said there would not be a third runway at Heathrow “no ifs no buts”. Some of his Cabinet colleagues, most notably Theresa May, Philip Hammond and Justine Greening are hotly opposed to it as is Boris Johnson, the London Mayor, and Zac Goldsmith, the Tories’ mayoral candidate in next year’s contest.
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, and John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, both London MPs, are also opposed.
Mr McDonnell suggested improved links between existing airports or more development at Gatwick would be a better way forward than a third runway at Heathrow, which would badly hit his Hayes and Harlington constituency.
“A third runway at Heathrow would be an environmental and economic disaster," he declared.
To underline the dilemma facing Mr Cameron, it has been suggested George Osborne is preparing to come out in favour of the west London option, supposedly ready to advocate a “Heathrow or nothing” line and ruling out expanding Gatwick.
Airport expansion in the Home Counties is likely to be legislated for, at least in part, under the new English Votes for English Laws (Evel) provision because major planning issues south of the border are decided by Westminster.
While the SNP has complained Evel will bar its MPs from voting on a key legislative committee stage, it could – given the splits within Tory and Labour ranks on the issue – result in a final UKwide vote, where Scottish MPs determine whether Heathrow or Gatwick is expanded.
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