Time for take-off

The business motion in the House of Commons today sounds bland: “National Policy Statement (New Runway Capacity and Infrastructure at Airports in the South East of England)”. But it is far from dull. This is the culmination of years of talking, arguing and dithering over building a third runway at Heathrow Airport. MPS are finally being asked to endorse a proposal first made by the Labour government 15 years ago as the best way of expanding London’s airport capacity.

Since the late Sixties, there have been inquiries, discussions, disagreements, campaigns and procrastination. New airports have been suggested and abandoned; the expansion of Gatwick or Stansted considered and rejected; governments of every stripe pledged to sort it out only to leave office with the matter unresolved. MPS have been elected to Parliament committed to opposing Heathrow’s additional runway only to lose their seats without ever voting on it. Boris Johnson threatened to trigger a by-election if the Government opted for Heathrow but will content himself with absence from the House today. The equally committed Greg Hands, the International Trade minister, unable to manufacture a convenient overseas trip, has resigned in order to vote against a three-line whip. Labour, once in favour of Heathrow, now says the Government’s plans do not meet the conditions it set out to warrant its support.

John Mcdonnell, the shadow chancellor, is a fierce opponent because his constituency is on the flight path. Yet the party is allowing MPS a free vote as the trade unions are largely pro-expansion because of the jobs boost. This should guarantee the Government a win since the SNP are in favour. But potential investors will be looking for an emphatic political statement from the Commons. As Chris Grayling rightly says on the page opposite, more dithering is simply not an option.