Ed Miliband insists Heathrow expansion ‘will not go ahead’ if it breaches net zero targets
Ed Miliband insists Heathrow expansion ‘will not go ahead’ if it breaches net zero targets
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Ed Miliband looked visibly uncomfortable as he was grilled over how the expansion of Heathrow Airport with a third runway was compatible with his carbon emission net zero targets. Ed Miliband has said any expansion of Heathrow Airport or other aviation projects must fall within the UK’s carbon budget as he leads the push for net zero.
![[There has been speculation that a third runway at Heathrow Airport could be confirmed by Ms Reeves this week]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/26/10/3883cd0539243b12501929082187f444Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3OTc0NTI3-2.41592337.jpg)
The energy secretary, who has refused to resign over the plans to expand Heathrow with a third runway, looked visibly uncomfortable as he was grilled on the controversy by newly elected Shrewsbury Labour MP Julia Buckley. During the session of the Environmental Audit Committee, Ms Buckley rounded on Mr Miliband over the apparent incompatibility between his plans to reduce carbon emissions and chancellor Rachel Reeves’s push for economic growth.
Ms Reeves had already caused Mr Miliband difficulties by suggesting that economic growth should “trump” net zero considerations. The chancellor said: “When we say growth is the number one issue for this government we mean it and that means it trumps other things.”.
Mr Miliband’s grilling over Heathrow came as Ms Reeves faced dissent at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) from Brentford and Isleworth MP Ruth Cadbury, who has been a long-standing opponent of a third runway at the airport. A spokesperson for Rachel Reeves confirmed Ms Cadbury, whose constituency would be affected, was the only MP to speak out and there was otherwise “overwhelming support”.
