Prime Minister Andy Burnham is being urged to back a third runway at Heathrow Airport, with critics arguing his reluctance reflects a regional mayoral mindset rather than the bold leadership needed for national economic growth.
In a recent BBC interview, Burnham said: “I think principally, it’s a matter for London and Londoners”, adding: “I think we ought to hear the voice of people there first. It’s not right for me to just jump straight in on the back of the consultation.” During the interview, he refused five times to support the development.
Delays and rising costs
Current plans for another runway are reportedly set to be delayed by four years, meaning it would not be operational until 2039. When Rachel Reeves was chancellor last year, she announced government support for the runway and set a target for it to be operational by 2035, but that support and timeline are now slipping.
Britain’s record on delivering big infrastructure projects on time and within budget is poor. Plans for a third runway at Heathrow date back to the late 1940s, and the M25, first proposed in the same decade, was finally completed in 1986. The HS2 rail project’s budget has ballooned from around £55 billion to almost double at £110 billion, confirmed earlier this year by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, with slower trains and a pruned network expected.
Airport configuration debate
Burnham has also discussed his previous role as Mayor of Greater Manchester, mentioning a second runway at Manchester Airport. He said: “So, I think we do need to have a wider discussion about what is the right airport configuration for the country in the long run, and where airports have got capacity, should that be used first before we allow further airport expansion. But I am on this one, having to say that I am listening to both sides of the argument. There is a strong case for it…”
Critics argue travellers want to fly directly into Heathrow and take a short train ride into the capital, rather than flying into Manchester and facing a long M6 drive or expensive train ticket. The Heathrow expansion project alone is set to create 100,000 jobs, which would provide a major boost to the economy.
The call is for Burnham to publicly back a third runway at Heathrow to ensure Britain has a 21st-century airport with additional capacity fit for the future.
