50 business leaders hit out over Heathrow ‘dithering’
FORMER Tory Party treasurer Michael Spencer today becomes one of more than 50 business leaders to tell David Cameron his dithering over Heathrow is ‘disastrous’ for Britain.
The chief executive of brokerage firm ICAP has donated millions to the Conservatives.
But today Mr Spencer puts his name to a letter lambasting the Prime Minister for delaying a decision on a new runway for the South east until summer next year.
every delay to the politically charged decision to expand Heathrow or Gatwick costs British business billions and sends a ‘disastrous message’ to global investors, the letter warns.
The signatories include marketing guru Sir Martin Sorrell of WPP, Martin Gilbert, chief executive of investment firm Aberdeen Asset Management, and Harrods’ managing director Michael Ward. They urged Mr Cameron to ‘get a grip’ on aviation expansion.
Mr Spencer’s inclusion in the list is particularly significant as he is an ally of Mr Cameron’s. It is the second blow he has landed on the PM, after saying earlier this month that Britain could ‘thrive outside the eU’.
Last week, ministers announced a further six-month delay on a new runway. A decision had been promised by the end of this year, but Mr Cameron has said more environmental tests are needed. This prompted expansion enthusiasts to accuse his government of putting short-term politics over the longterm national interest. The tycoons’ letter tells the PM it is ‘regrettable’ he has ducked out of making a call on a new runway.
Business leaders pointed to the Airports Commission spending millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money and three years examining evidence – adding that it ‘was established so that a difficult decision, fundamental to our long-term prosperity, could be made without being bogged down by politics’.
The signatories said they backed the commission’s ‘clear recommendation’ to build a third runway at Heathrow. They wrote: ‘The Government should listen to the experts it appointed and just get on with this vital upgrade to our national infrastructure. ‘every further period of delay is costing the UK economy billions in lost trade and investment and damaging our economic competitiveness. The message this sends out to global investors is equally disastrous.’ They concluded: ‘We urge the Government to get a grip … by committing to announce a clear and final decision by no later than the end of May 2016.’ Critics have previously accused the Government of shelving the decision to avoid a by-election in Richmond Park, the London seat held by Tory mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith, who vowed to quit if another runway is given the green light.
This week, Mr Cameron was faced with the threat of British Airways taking some of its business abroad if a third runway is not built. Willie Walsh, head of BA’s parent firm International Airlines Group, wrote that he would refocus operations in Ireland and Spain while the Government ‘twiddles its thumbs’.
If Cameron doesn’t stop dithering over a new runway, I’ll take my business elsewhere
BA chief Willie Walsh in Tuesday’s Mail