Just make a decision already

The Scottish Government has spoken and, sorry Gatwick, but Heathrow it is. Unfortunately, however, it is not the powers-that-be at Holyrood that have the final say on how vital air infrastructure in the south of England is expanded.

That’s down to Prime Minister Theresa May and her Westminster acolytes and I’m afraid what we have seen from Downing Street is yet more prevaricating on a subject that really needs to be at the top of the economic agenda.

It is difficult to overstate just how vital the UK’s air connectivity is to the state of the economy.

Hub airports are the wheel to which other cogs of the economy fit around.

Failing to continuously improve, enhance and expand any country’s air connections is, therefore, akin to an act of economic vandalism.

That’s why the interminable Heathrow/Gatwick airport expansion debate is so frustrating. In both instances, the strategic case for expansion has (very) long been made.

The Airports Commission, an independent review led by RBS chairman Sir Howard Davies, was ordered in 2012 to determine which horse to back.

It took an incredible three years but Sir Howard was unequivocal when his final report landed to much fanfare 15 months ago.

His recommendation was to back the Heathrow proposal to build a new northwest runway – a move he insisted would create up to 70,000 new UK jobs out to 2050.

Of that number, the Airport’s Commission estimated that up to 16,100 jobs would be created in Scotland, with 6,100 coming to Edinburgh and the east coast region.

That should have been the final word and David Cameron’s government needed to grasp the nettle.

But they didn’t and now 15 months down the line and with a new government in power, this key infrastructure issue remains unresolved.

The best we have are off-the-record soundings that Theresa May is “minded” to approve Heathrow and a decision could come before the end of the month.

I do hope that proves correct as, with each passing day, the UK’s failure to make a decision compounds the economic damage already being done.

Those jobs Sir Howard talked about could already be on their way to being delivered – but they are not and the economic benefits to communities of improved trade links are still a long way from being felt.

In a post-Brexit landscape where the UK’s relationship with the wider world is being questioned, there can be no further excuse for delay. Theresa May must demonstrate her leadership and sanction Heathrow immediately.

Heathrow is the UK’s largest airport hub and is keen to add new runway capacity.