Stars align for Heathrow third runway but Supreme Court may put the fast-warming planet first
Stars align for Heathrow third runway but Supreme Court may put the fast-warming planet first
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Heathrow’s plans for a third runway are taxiing ready for take-off after the Labour government threw its weight behind the expansion. The move has sparked a furious debate in Parliament, across London with Sir Sadiq Khan vowing to oppose it, and with environmentalists.
With Labour’s whopping Commons majority, the proposal will sail through Parliament. Sir Keir Starmer, Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband, Environment Secretary Steve Reed, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones...the list goes on...all objected to a third runway in 2018 when it was pushed through Parliament by the Tory government.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, MP for Leeds West, has previously opposed expansion of Leeds Bradford airport but now claims developments in sustainable aviation fuel have “changed things”. “If plans came forward again at Leeds Bradford I would support expansion,” she says.
What’s clear is a number of Cabinet ministers are set to make screeching U-turns on previous opposition to airport expansion as the Government desperately seeks economic growth, its No1 priority. Mr Miliband, who was a strong opponent of a third runway, has said he will not resign on the issue.
However, he has also stressed that the whole of Government, including the Chancellor, is committed to Labour’s net zero pledges, and to abiding by the rule of law, more than can be said for some previous administrations. So, the whole third runway row is heading for the courts.
