Boris raises new doubts as MPS back Heathrow runway

BORIS JOHNSON has cast doubt on whether a third runway at Heathrow will ever be built, despite MPS overwhelmingly approving plans to expand Britain’s biggest airport last night.

The Foreign Secretary predicted it would be “a very long time” before the £14 billion development could begin, “if indeed a third runway ever comes about”.

Mr Johnson, who has always opposed the Heathrow expansion, was ridiculed by his colleagues yesterday for flying to Afghanistan to avoid the vote, which the Government won by 415 to 119, a majority of 296.

The size of the Government’s majority reflected a major Labour rebellion against Jeremy Corbyn’s policy on Heathrow. Official Labour policy is to oppose the third runway, as the plan put forward by Heathrow fails four tests set out by the party on environmental standards and nationwide benefits.

However, the expansion is supported by Unite, Labour’s biggest union donor, and with dozens of its MPS publicly backing the plan, Mr Corbyn decided to offer his MPS a free vote rather than whipping them to vote against the Government.

A total of 119 Labour MPS backed expansion with just 94 supporting Mr Corbyn with a no vote.

Eight Tory MPS rebelled, including Zac Goldsmith, the former London mayoral candidate, and Justine Greening, the former education secretary, both of whom have London constituencies.

Greg Hands, the former trade minister who resigned from Government last week over the plans for the new

runway, also opposed the move. Last night’s vote paved the way for Heathrow to begin work on a third runway 15 years after it first became government policy under Labour. Heathrow said the development would increase capacity from 85.5million passengers per year to 130million.

However, four local councils have already announced plans to seek a judicial review of the decision, meaning it could face years of further delays. Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said he would support the councils.

Mr Johnson, whose Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency is only a few miles from Heathrow, was accused yesterday of breaking a promise to oppose the third runway, having said in the past he would “lie down in front of bulldozers” if need be.

Unlike Greg Hands, who resigned as international trade minister in order to vote against the Government, Mr Johnson accepted permission from Theresa May to be out of the country.

In a letter to councillors in his constituency, Mr Johnson said: “Some of my critics have suggested that I should resign over the issue. No doubt they have my best interests at heart.

“But it is clear from what is likely to be a large majority of MPS who are in favour of a third runway that my resignation would have achieved absolutely nothing. In view of the very considerable difficulties that still face the third runway – its cost and the appalling air and noise pollution entailed by the project – I believe it will be a very long time before we have to make good on that pledge; if indeed a third runway ever comes about.”

Justine Greening, the Tory former Cabinet minister and a critic of Heathrow’s expansion, mocked Mr Johnson as she said she “wouldn’t want any long term MP campaigners against Heathrow expansion to miss their chance to represent their community”.

Other Tory MPS said he should have “put his money where his mouth is” by opposing the plans in Parliament while Mr Hands said it was “very important” for MPS to fulfil “clear pledges” to the electorate.

Even Theresa May appeared to poke fun at Mr Johnson last week when she said he would be the “living embodiment of global Britain” as he jetted around the world during the vote.

Mr Johnson’s visit to Kabul is estimated to have cost the taxpayer at least £28,000, though the Foreign Office refused to divulge the cost, its duration, or the date when it was arranged. Mr Johnson is understood to have flown on a commercial flight via Istanbul.