Corbyn to order MPS to block Heathrow expansion over air quality concerns
LABOUR will try to block the Government’s Heathrow expansion scheme after John Mcdonnell said the plan should be scrapped on environmental grounds.
The shadow chancellor, whose Hayes and Harlington constituency covers Heathrow, believes a third runway would fail to clear a hurdle on air quality set down by Labour.
Jeremy Corbyn is expected to order his MPS to oppose Heathrow expansion when it is put to a vote in the Commons within the next three weeks.
Chris Grayling, the Transport Secretary, confirmed yesterday that ministers intend to press ahead with a third runway, but the Government will need the support of opposition MPS because a number of Tories are expected to defy a three-line whip on the issue.
Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, is among those who have made it clear they could not vote in favour of the expansion, having previously said he would “lie down in front of the bulldozers” to stop it happening.
Theresa May yesterday gave ministers with long-standing opposition to the scheme permission to criticise it and campaign against it in local media, though they will not be allowed to campaign nationally.
The decision to build a third runway follows decades of political rows and comes three years after the Airports Commission recommended it.
Heathrow has said an extra runway would allow it to handle 740,000 flights per year, up from 473,000 in 2016, and boost the local economy with the creation of 60,000 new jobs.
Ministers regard it as vital to support the expansion of the economy after Brexit and Mr Grayling said that after repeated delays, “the time for action is now”.
While the scheme has been backed by Unite and the GMB, Labour’s union backers, Labour MPS will be urged to vote against it. The party has for years said it would only back the plan if it passed four tests, including the need to reduce CO2 emissions, minimal noise and environmental impacts, and help for regional airports. Earlier this year, Mr Mcdonnell said the expansion was no longer “a runner” because it would adversely affect air quality, and a source close to Mr Mcdonnell said he had not changed his mind and that it was “very unlikely” the scheme would pass Labour’s tests.
Mrs May will need the backing of enough opposition MPS to offset rebels in her own party, who will also include Justine Greening, the former education secretary, who has said she will vote against it. Her Putney constituency is under the Heathrow flight path.
A number of Labour MPS are expected to vote with the Government, and the SNP broadly supports the plan.
Mr Grayling sought to reassure residents with plans for “up to” £2.6billion of spending on compensation, soundproofing and similar measures, to be paid by the airport’s owners.
If the motion does win the support of MPS, Heathrow will still need to set out more thorough plans that will be subject to a public consultation and a planning inquiry. Construction is expected to begin no sooner than 2021.
Simon Dudley, the leader of Windsor and Maidenhead Council, said his was among four authorities considering legal action along with Greenpeace.
“If it doesn’t satisfactorily address concerns, then if MPS vote in favour of adopting this National Policy Statement, that opens up a six-week window to a legal challenge and there will be a legal challenge,” he told BBC Radio Berkshire.