Split over Heathrow runway

Downing Street bans rebels from fighting against third runway

THE decision to approve a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport yesterday sparked a major split in Theresa May’s Cabinet.

As Transport Secretary Chris Grayling confirmed the project had been given the green light, Downing Street said Tory rebels opposing the scheme would not be permitted to campaign against it, while Government ministers who want to vote against it will be forced to resign.

In Scotland, the announcement was met with unanimous approval, with the SNP and Conservatives hailing the potential boost to the country’s ‘economy and connectivity’.

The £14billion runway is expected to be completed by 2026, allowing 260,000 extra flights a year.

Boris Johnson was effectively gagged by Theresa May over Heathrow last night as No10 insisted Tory rebels would not be allowed to campaign against a third runway.

After the longdelayed airport expansion finally received Government approval, the Prime Minister took a hard line with ministers who have opposed the project.

Those with ‘longstanding views’ will need to seek permission from No10 in advance even to comment to their local paper, officials said. Downing street also confirmed it would impose a threeline whip on a vote on the plans, meaning any ministers who want to vote against will be forced to resign.

Both the Foreign secretary and Greg Hands, the international Trade minister, are expected to be absent from the vote on overseas trips to spare their blushes.

in the Commons, Transport secretary Chris Grayling confirmed the third runway project had at last been given the green light. MPs will vote on the plans within three weeks.

The runway is expected to cost £14billion and be running by 2026. it will deliver at least 260,000 extra flights a year, giving Heathrow the capacity for dozens of new routes to trade hubs and tourist destinations.

The UK Government said it would bring real benefits to people across scotland. Existing flights to Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and inverness could be joined by new routes to airports such as Prest wick, owned by the scottish Government. scottish secretary David Mundell said: ‘Today’s news is a step forward for scotland and will boost the economy across the whole of the country, creating new jobs and better links for businesses. it’s clear that this expansion is good news.’

scottish Conservative leader ruth Davidson wrote on Twitter: ‘Pleased to hear the Transport secretary give such a strong statement backing Heathrow expansion. Vital hub for scottish business.’

The sNP’s transport spokesman, Alan Brown, gave Mr Grayling his party’s support for the proposals but added: ‘The secretary of state talks about the benefits to nations and regions and the expected 15 per cent of slots [on] the new runway to facilitate domestic connections across the UK – he’s still not clarified how he will ensure this will happen.’

But a spokesman for Edinburgh Airport, which is coowned with Gatwick, said: ‘We remain unconvinced of the argument for Heathrow and its ability to successfully build a third runway. We are sceptical about this happening at all.’

Mrs May hailed the decision, backed by business leaders, as a boost for Brexit Britain, saying that it ‘demonstrates this Government’s commitment to deliver the jobs and major infrastructure that this country needs to thrive as we leave the EU’.

The decision was approved yesterday morning by a Cabinet subcommittee, but at a later meeting of the full Cabinet, Mr Johnson apparently restated his opposition.

But later Mrs May’s official spokesman said: ‘No minister will be permitted to campaign actively against the Government position, nor publicly criticise or call into question the decisionmaking process itself. Ministers will not be permitted to speak against the Government in the House.’

several backbench Tories have indicated their intention to vote against expansion.

Former Cabinet minister Justine Greening said: ‘it’s a really bad proposal for the British economy which will create the most uncompetitive airport in the world as our hub airport.’

But despite the opposition, the vote is likely to sail through the Commons as Labour is split.

The project has wide support among its MPs in the North of England and Midlands and is backed by the unions, but shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, is ‘implacably opposed’ to ‘a costly, environmental and social disaster’.

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