TOP TORY QUITS OVER HEATHROW EXPANSION VOTE
Now heat is on opponent Boris
ONE of Theresa May’s Ministers has quit after it was confirmed Tory MPs will be forced to vote for a third runway at Heathrow.
International Trade Minister Greg Hands, whose London constituency is under the flight path, tweeted: “As the Government will be whipping Monday’s vote... I am resigning.”
His resignation yesterday forced the spotlight on runway opponent Boris Johnson, who will be on an overseas visit on Monday. Aides refused to reveal his destination “for security reasons”.
Critics said it meant the Foreign Secretary could dodge the crunch vote. Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said: “The resignation piles the pressure on Johnson who promised he would ‘lie in front of the bulldozers’ to stop a third runway. “Instead he’s jetting off because he’s too weak to stand by his promises.” Labour, which opposes the plan because it fails their tests of cutting noise and CO2, increasing capacity and benefiting the wider UK, is calling for a free vote. But former Labour Transport Secretary Lord Adonis accused Jeremy Corbyn of “backing Boris Johnson” and showing a “total disregard” for MPs, unions and businesses. He said the party was putting “Tory vested interests before workers”.
The PM’s long-time aide, George Hollingbery MP, replaces Mr Hands.