Tories accuse SNP of ‘playing party politics’ over vote
SNP members in the Commons were last night accused of putting their ‘Nationalist agenda’ before thousands of Scots jobs after they refused to back the expansion of Britain’s biggest airport.
In a U-turn, the party abstained on the vote on the third runway at Heathrow, despite the Scottish Government confirming it supports the proposal, which will create up to 16,000 jobs in Scotland.
With several Tory MPs rebelling over the issue, the SNP’s failure to give its support could have scuppered the entire £14billion scheme.
However, the UK Government managed to get enough support in a late-night vote to see the proposals over the line.
Last night’s vote saw 415 MPs vote in favour of the expansion, while 119 voted against.
The Scottish Government has already signed a ‘memorandum of understanding’ with Heathrow and Nicola Sturgeon previously said the expansion would bring the ‘greatest benefits’ to Scotland and would have ‘an extremely important impact on the economy and on jobs’.
Only three weeks ago, Alan Brown, the SNP’s transport spokesman at Westminster, cited business leaders hailing the ‘benefits’ the third runway would bring to Scotland, including thousands of jobs.
He said: ‘That helped to sway me, and the Scottish Government have reiterated their support.’
However, following a meeting of the SNP’s Westminster group last night, Mr Brown announced the party’s MPs would abstain because there were ‘no guarantees’ on the benefit to Scotland.
Opponents said that the decision was an example of the party’s ‘guerrilla’ campaign at Westminster. Earlier this month, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said his party will do ‘whatever action is necessary’ to cause problems for the UK Government and ‘frustrate’ its actions.
Scottish Tory finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said: ‘The third runway project stands to secure as many as 16,000 jobs in Scotland thanks to the work that will be required across the UK. The SNP knew that – which is why it originally backed Heathrow’s bid.
‘It’s also why Scottish Conservative MPs unanimously back the plans too. Yet today, the SNP has ripped that commitment to pieces.
‘The Nationalists have not done so because they have a principled objection to Heathrow. They’ve done so because Nicola Sturgeon has told them they must oppose whatever the UK Government proposes as part of her own narrow Nationalist agenda.
‘This is what Nicola Sturgeon and Ian Blackford mean by “guerrilla tactics”.
‘Incredibly, it means blocking thousands of jobs coming to Scotland and preventing Scottish passengers getting a better connection to Britain’s main airport.
‘SNP MPs have shown their true colours today. They could have acted in the Scottish interest and in the interests of passengers and workers across Scotland. Instead, they have done Nicola Sturgeon’s bidding and put her interests before the country’s.’
During the Commons debate, UK Transport Secretary Chris Grayling disclosed that bosses at Heathrow had agreed with the Scottish Government yesterday afternoon that it would put aside 200 slots for flights from Scotland, rather than the 100 previously promised.
Although Mr Brown said this was ‘much preferable’ to 100
‘Commitment ripped to pieces’
‘SNP have shown true colours’
flights, he claimed that only the UK Government could provide the guarantees needed.
Mr Blackford added: ‘The UK Government haven’t stood up to protect Scotland’s interests.’
A Scottish Government spokesman yesterday said it still supports the third runway and ‘welcomes the expansion of connecting flights between Scotland and Heathrow’.
Former Tory Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin pointed out during last night’s debate that Mr Brown previously said he was persuaded by the views of businesses.
He said: ‘The people of Scotland can feel let down by the SNP for playing party politics.’
MINISTERS last night won a comfortable Commons victory for their plan to build a third runway at Heathrow. About time, too.
At long last, this vote should mark the beginning of the end of 50 years of wrangling, dithering and delays that have shown the political class at its pusillanimous and self-interested worst.
Indeed, right up to the crucial division, few emerged with any credit from either side of the debate.
Take the SNP, engaged by the improbable Ian Blackford in a truly pathetic guerrilla war in the Commons.
The impotent block of 35 Nationalists abstained, in contrast to the party in Scotland which – knowing Heathrow’s expansion will boost our transport links and create jobs – backs the plan.
This pathetic posturing shows how childish the SNP’s Westminster campaign is.
Jeremy Corbyn suggested he might overturn the choice of Heathrow if he came to power, thereby threatening to prolong the agonising indecision even further.
His apparent aim, apart from doing a favour for his anti-Heathrow henchman John McDonnell, was merely to cause maximum trouble for the Government. Thus, like the SNP, he put petty politics above the national interest.
Nor did Chancellor Philip Hammond or Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson behave much better. Both told their constituents they would oppose expanding the airport, with Boris even saying he would lie down in front of the bulldozers.
Yet when the moment came for the vote, both were conveniently out of the country, meaning they could keep their Cabinet jobs rather than their word.
What is indisputable – as rivals in France, Germany and Holland attract business that might otherwise come to Britain – is that the UK is crying out for greater airport capacity and the trade and jobs that come with it.
For Britain’s sake, politicians must now put the bickering and indecision behind them – and crack on.