Back Heathrow expansion to boost Brexit, MPS told
Grayling warns Tories that UK needs third runway to trade on global stage after half-century of stalling
CHRIS GRAYLING today tells Tory MPS to stop prevaricating and back a third runway at Heathrow to aid Britain’s trade drive as it prepares for life after Brexit.
The Transport Secretary, writing in The Daily Telegraph ahead of today’s crucial Commons vote, says Britain has put off a decision on the airport’s expansion for “nearly half a century”. While he concedes there is “never an easy answer, the perfect place or option that leaves local communities unaffected”, he warns MPS that the UK needs new airport capacity in order to compete after leaving the EU.
He says: “We need to demonstrate clearly that our future lies very much at the heart of the world stage. There is no better way of doing that than by finally taking the decision to equip our hub airport with the capacity it needs.
“It really is time for the big decision. We have prevaricated as a nation about this for nearly half a century.” John Holland-kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow Airport, also writing in The Telegraph, said: “As we prepare to leave the EU, let us send our friends in Brussels, Berlin and Paris the strongest pos- sible message that Britain is a confident, outward looking trading nation, ready to take them on and win in the global race – by backing Heathrow expansion.”
About 100 Labour MPS are set to defy their leader and support the runway after the union Unite backed the scheme, saying it would boost the economy.
The Government, which expects 12 to 18 Tory MPS to oppose the plan, is “cautiously optimistic” it will win the vote, a source said.
The SNP had been expected to back the plans, as expansion could mean more internal UK flights, but a source said it would abstain or even vote against. The DUP will vote in favour. The decision by Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, to fly out of the UK on a business trip instead of voting against – he is a long-term opponent – has infuriated Tory MPS, who accused him of abandoning his principles.
Greg Hands, the former trade minister who quit the Government last week so he could make good on his longstanding commitment to fight expansion, tweeted a message that appeared to be aimed at Mr Johnson last night.
He wrote: “Great to arrive back in the UK at Luton Airport in time for the match today and to vote against Heathrow expansion tomorrow. I wouldn’t want to be abroad for either of those.”
The Prime Minister confirmed the vote would carry a three-line whip. Labour MPS have been given a free vote.
Tory backbencher Sarah Wollaston challenged Mr Johnson to “put his money where his mouth is” and resign as Foreign Secretary if he disagrees with the Government, adding that disappearing abroad to avoid the vote “won’t wash”.
Mr Johnson vowed to lie in front of bulldozers at Heathrow if it won the right to expand but chose to avoid the vote and keep his Cabinet job instead.
He would have been forced to step down or vote with the Government if he were in London. But Mrs May last week confirmed that he would miss the vote by being “the living embodiment of global Britain” abroad.
The Government has so far declined to say where Mr Johnson is going.