NEWS STORY : Government Backs Heathrow Expansion in Boost for Economic Growth

STORY

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has said that the Government is supportive of the third runway at Heathrow Airport in what she called a boost for economic growth. In a keynote speech she said:

“I have always been clear that a third runway at Heathrow would unlock further growth, boost investment, increase exports, and make the UK more open and more connected as part of our Plan for Change. And now the case is stronger than ever because our reforms to the economy – like speeding up our planning system, and our strengthened plans to modernise UK airspace – mean the delivery of this project is set up for success. So I can confirm today that this Government supports a third runway at Heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer.”

The first announcement of plans to build a third runway were mentioned in May 2003, with the Government of the time giving their cautious support. Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, gave approval to the plans in 2009, but they were cancelled by the incoming Cameron Government in 2010. Cameron later gave more support, but the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said that the Liberal Democrats wouldn’t back it. Despite the recommendation by the Airports Commission to build a third runway and support from MPs, the runway didn’t get permission from either Theresa May or Boris Johnson, with expansion plans formally blocked in February 2020.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said that he would contest the building of the new runway, whilst the Government said that investment in the country’s future was now necessary to ensure growth and this wasn’t incompatible with net zero.