Reeves says need for growth trumps opposition amid Heathrow speculation
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Rachel Reeves is set to face down prominent Labour critics of plans to expand Heathrow, saying the need for economic growth trumps other concerns. The Chancellor is expected to use a speech on growth next week to support the proposed third runway at the west London airport and endorse expansion at Gatwick and Luton Airports.
The plans will face fierce resistance from environmental groups and senior Labour figures including London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband have previously spoken out against a third runway at Heathrow. Sir Sadiq won a third term in 2024 on a platform of opposing any expansion of airports in the capital.
Even Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer voted against Heathrow expansion in June 2018. Ms Reeves said she would not comment on “speculation” about Heathrow but pointed out that the Government has already taken “big decisions” by backing expansion plans at London City and Stansted Airports.
At a Bloomberg event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Chancellor was challenged on whether Heathrow expansion would cause problems with Sir Sadiq and Mr Miliband. She said: “This was the problem with the last government – that there was always somebody that said: ‘Oh yes, of course we want to grow the economy but we don’t like that investment, we don’t like that wind farm, we don’t like those pylons, we don’t like that airport, we don’t want that housing near us’.
