Boris McBoatface surfaces at last
Foreign Secretary shows up for first time since minister quit over Heathrow
CAMPAIGNERS today piled pressure on Boris Johnson to vote against a third Heathrow runway rather than fly abroad to avoid the Commons airport showdown.
They asked “where’s Boris going to be” on Monday night when MPs debate the Heathrow expansion.
Details of the Foreign Secretary’s trip abroad, which means he will not be in Parliament for the vote, are being kept secret on security grounds. There were also no reporters invited to the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton today as he posed alongside the Boaty McBoatface mini-submarine to unveil plans for a new oceans strategy.
But Mr Johnson was firmly in the spotlight after Greg Hands, MP for Chelsea & Fulham, quit as international trade minister having told his constituents he would oppose another runway.
Police minister Nick Hurd, MP for neighbouring Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, has also strongly opposed Heathrow expansion, and it was unclear today what he would do about the vote. Mr Johnson famously said that he would lie down in front of bulldozers to stop a third runway being built.
John Stewart, chairman of anti-Heathrow expansion group HACAN, said today: “Following Greg Hands’ resignation, people are asking more strongly than ever ‘where is Boris?” and will he have the courage of his convictions and turn up on Monday to vote against a third runway.” Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable said:“If his stance against expansion is as staunch as he has claimed, then he must not go into hiding away from Parliament.”
A senior Tory MP said: “A lot of people in his community will be very disappointed that having said he would stand in front of bulldozers he is instead standing aside.” Another Tory backbencher said: “We would rather have Boris parked in an airport lounge where nobody can see him than have a big hoo-ha over whether he does or doesn’t resign. This is a diplomatic way out.”
Theresa May is expected to comfortably win the vote on a third runway as it is also backed by many Labour MPs.