Rachel Reeves announces government support for 'badly needed' Heathrow third runway and airport expansion
Rachel Reeves announces government support for 'badly needed' Heathrow third runway and airport expansion
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Rachel Reeves has confirmed the Government will support building a third runway at Heathrow and airport expansion. In a speech in Oxfordshire on Wednesday, the Chancellor said economic growth "will not come without a fight", as she announced plans designed to kickstart Britain's floundering economy.
This includes the “badly needed” third runway at Heathrow, which would create “over 100,000 jobs”, Ms Reeves said. She is expected to face a fierce opposition to expanding the west London airport from some senior Labour colleagues, including Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The Heathrow scheme would have a major impact on the local area, with hundreds of homes demolished and villages, such as Harmondsworth and Longford, likely to be partly or wholly torn down. The plans received parliamentary approval in June 2018, but the airport would need to apply for a Development Consent Order to go ahead with the project.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will also be making a statement on the expansion of Gatwick and Luton airport “shortly”, the Chancellor added. Ms Reeves said: “Heathrow is at the heart of the UK’s openness as a country.”. She added: “We are taking a totally different approach to airport expansion.
“This government has already given its support to expansion at [London] City airport and at Stansted, and there are two live decisions on Luton and Gatwick, which will be made by the Transport Secretary shortly. “But as our only hub airport Heathrow is in a unique position, and we cannot duck the decision any longer.
