World News

Third runway at Heathrow cleared for takeoff by ministers

Published by

THE government has approved a third runway at Heathrow to expand United Kingdom airport capacity following a cabinet committee meeting on Tuesday.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said the “truly momentous” decision would support trade and create jobs, BBC reported.

Gatwick airport said it was disappointed with the decision, which was “not the right answer for Britain”.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson – a vocal opponent of Heathrow – said a third runway was “undeliverable”.

The MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip in west London doubted whether construction would ever start: “The day when the bulldozers appear is a long way off, if indeed they ever materialise.”

The government has approved a third runway at Heathrow to expand UK airport capacity following a cabinet committee meeting on Tuesday.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said the “truly momentous” decision would support trade and create jobs.

Gatwick airport said it was disappointed with the decision, which was “not the right answer for Britain”.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson – a vocal opponent of Heathrow – said a third runway was “undeliverable”.

The MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip in west London doubted whether construction would ever start: “The day when the bulldozers appear is a long way off, if indeed they ever materialise.”

Expanding airport capacity in the South East of England has been a political hot potato for many years, which is why successive governments have attempted to duck the issue.

Although Heathrow has always been the favourite among businesses, it has attracted the most opposition from MPs with constituencies near the airport or under flight paths.

A study last year led by Sir Howard Davies recommended a third runway at Heathrow, but other options included a new runway at Gatwick or extending one of Heathrow’s existing runways.

Zac Goldsmith, the Tory MP for Richmond Park, had threatened to resign if Heathrow expansion was approved and called the announcement “catastrophic”. He is expected to make a statement later on Tuesday.

The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, whose Hayes and Harlington constituency includes Heathrow, said the announcement was the start, rather than the end, of the process.

“It beggars belief that it has taken ministers over a year since the publication of the Davies report to even make that start,” he said. “There is no justification for dithering on this scale.”

Education Secretary Justine Greening, another vocal critic of Heathrow expansion, is expected to give her reaction to her constituents in Putney, south-west London, later on Tuesday.

Last week, Prime Minister Theresa May moved to head off possible Cabinet resignations by giving ministers some freedom to speak out against the decision.

 

Recent Posts

NCAA empowers airport communities’ youth with aviation skills

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has flagged off the implementation of the Federal Government's…

7 minutes ago

2027: Opposition coalition names chairman, gets party name

The National Opposition Coalition Group which held a meeting in Abuja said the platform had…

32 minutes ago

Seven Chinese nationals jailed over cyber-terrorism, internet fraud

A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced seven Chinese nationals to one…

37 minutes ago

Lagos deepens infrastructural collaboration through PPP roundtable

“PPPs allow Lagos State to tackle private capital in the name of tactical private capacities,…

44 minutes ago

‘I can’t betray him,’ Ododo describes Yahaya Bello as father figure, political mentor

“Any river that forgets its source will soon dry up. My boss, Yahaya Bello, is…

49 minutes ago

Army officers trained on warrior ethos, trauma recovery, drug abuse

"The warrior ethos embodies a deep sense of commitment, an intangible force that inspires soldiers…

59 minutes ago