Tories sidestep Heathrow split

THERESA MAY’S manifesto will not mention the Heathrow third runway following pressure from Boris Johnson and Conservative critics of the plans,

The Sunday Telegraph understands. The Government insists the project is still going ahead, but a Conservative spokesman said there was “no need” to include it as an election pledge because the runway was announced last year.

The concession comes after Tory MPs threatened to disavow the election manifesto if it promised Heathrow expansion. There were also fears the pledge would cost the Tories voters in London marginal seats which the Liberal Democrats aim to win.

Both Mr Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, and Justine Greening, the Education Secretary, are ardent opponents of a Heathrow third runway.

The Prime Minister backed Heathrow expansion last year, completing an about-turn by her party, which had campaigned against the third runway in the 2010 election.

The decision was expected to be included in this year’s manifesto because

it will be one of the most expensive and controversial infrastructure projects if Mrs May wins June’s general election.

Yet a Conservative spokesman said: “There is no need for Heathrow to be in the manifesto because the decision was taken by the Government last year.”

A more veiled reference to airport expansion is now expected to be included instead. There is no suggestion the Tories are abandoning their policy of building the third runway, which is currently out to consultation.

However, leaving it out of the manifesto solves a political problem brewing behind the scenes because up to a dozen Tory MPs are staunch opponents of the move. Mr Johnson – who once promised to lie down “in front of those bulldozers and stop the building” – joined the legal case against the expansion while mayor of London.

The Foreign Secretary would have had to disown any Tory manifesto promise on the third runway during the election campaign. Zac Goldsmith, who triggered, and lost, a by-election after the runway was approved, would have faced a similar problem as he fights to win back Richmond Park in the weeks ahead. He told The Sunday

Telegraph he would “of course” oppose the third runway while campaigning.

“Heathrow expansion matters to many people in our community and it is so clearly the wrong answer,” he said.

Tania Mathias, the Tory MP for Twickenham who faces a battle to defeat the Lib Dems’ Sir Vince Cable, said: “There is no change in momentum against Heathrow expansion.”

Critics are expected to jump on the news because they argue the legal approval for Heathrow expansion can only come after a vote in Parliament.

The Government is also facing a legal challenge from four councils – including Maidenhead and Windsor in Mrs May’s constituency.