Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have pressed ahead with plans for a third runway at Heathrow, publishing a public consultation on the proposed Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS). The Chancellor said growth is the Government's top priority, claiming an expanded Heathrow would support over 60,000 jobs and deliver up to £42 billion in benefits to the UK.
However, London Mayor Sadiq Khan is opposing the expansion, citing severe impacts on noise, air pollution, and climate change targets. A spokesman for Khan said he remains unconvinced that a new runway delivering hundreds of thousands of additional flights could be achieved without a hugely detrimental impact on the climate and environment.
The consultation period, running until the end of August, has been criticised as rushed. Aviation campaigner John Stewart called it 'very much rushing it through', noting it includes the holiday month of August. Twickenham MP Munira Wilson accused the PM and Chancellor of slipping out the announcement weeks before they are out of a job.
Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye welcomed the Government's decision, saying the UK cannot realise its full economic potential without an expanded Heathrow. But Paul McGuinness, chair of the No 3rd Runway Coalition, predicted costs would soar and accused ministers of a 'sham consultation'.
The Government is backing Heathrow's £33 billion scheme to increase capacity by over 50% to 756,000 flights a year, involving moving the M25. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said up to 40% of growth benefits would be outside London and the South East.
