UK cannot afford to not build runways, says Reynolds ahead of key Reeves speech
UK cannot afford to not build runways, says Reynolds ahead of key Reeves speech
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The UK “can’t afford” to be a country that “doesn’t build runways” or other major projects, a senior minister has said ahead of a major economic speech by Rachel Reeves. The Chancellor is due to set out policies on Wednesday to encourage economic growth, including an expected expansion of Heathrow Airport.
Critics of the Government have said the plans are in conflict with the UK’s environmental commitments, but Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds warned the UK risks being “left behind” if it does not go for growth. He told BBC Breakfast: “I want people to know that things that have been too difficult in the past will be focused on, will be changed, will be delivered on, by this Government.
“It’s not just about aviation expansion, there’s a whole range of things.”. He added: “We’re not going to have endless judicial reviews effectively try to second-guess democratically-elected decisions from the elected government of the day. We will follow process, but that process has got to be one that can deliver the things.
“We simply cannot afford to say we don’t build reservoirs any more, we don’t build railways, we don’t build runways. That’s not good enough, we will be left behind.”. Ms Reeves’ speech in Oxfordshire on Wednesday is expected to lay out plans for projects around the Oxford and Cambridge region, which she will hail as having “the potential to be Europe’s Silicon Valley”.
