PM promised her own constituents she would fight third runway, newsletters show

ASSISTANT POLITICAL EDITOR THERESA MAY once pledged to “fight to stop the third runway” at Heathrow and warned it would have a “detrimental” impact on her constituents, it can be revealed.

Newsletters voters uncovered by show she warned that Heathrow expansion would “increase noise and pollution”.

In addition, she lobbied the independent airports commissioner while home secretary over concerns about the impact on the environment.

The disclosures come just days before Mrs May is expected to proclaim to local support for a third runway, and cause embarrassment.

The newsletters will leave her open to the same claims of backtracking on promises as David Cameron, who ditched his “no ifs, no buts” promise.

Mrs May’s Maidenhead constituency is less than a half an hour’s drive from Heathrow Airport.

She was on the front bench when Mr Cameron made opposing a new runway a key part of his 2010 election pitch.

Local campaign literature showed the extent of Mrs May’s criticism of Labour’s plans at the time. A 2009 newsletter reads: “Theresa has opposed the government’s decision to approve a third runway at Heathrow. This would will have a major impact on the constituency. A particular concern is a possible earlier increase in night flights over Maidenhead and the surrounding area.”

Mrs May is quoted as saying: “The government has approved the third runway, and I am concerned that they will now push ahead and allow an increase in night flights. This would be a major blow to local residents… I will fight to stop the third runway.”

A leaflet from November 2010 reads: “Theresa has welcomed the news that the government has cancelled the third runway project at Heathrow Airport.

“The third runway… would have resulted in additional flights and increased noise and pollution.”