Cross-Party Rally Says NO to a Third Runway
Vince Cable said no sound economic reason for Heathrow expansion
‘Simply No’ was the message of a cross-party rally staged by the campaign group HACAN on Tuesday in Central London. Politicians from across the political spectrum lined up with environmental chiefs, local authority leaders, businessmen and trade union leaders to pledge opposition to a third runway at Heathrow. Hundreds of people from London and the South East, including many whose homes are threatened by a new runway, filled the hall.
Twickenham MP Vince Cable made it clear that Liberal Democrat policy remained one of total opposition to a third runway. He said there was no sound economic reason why Heathrow needed to expand. John McDonnell, the Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, thousands of whose constituents are facing the loss of their homes, predicted that any decision to go-ahead with a new runway would result in the biggest direct action environmental protest in Europe. Tory MP Zac Goldsmith spelt out the impact of another 250,000 planes a year on local communities.
HACAN chair John Stewart said: “The rally sent a loud and clear message to the next Government: build a new runway at your peril. The coalition which saw it off last time round is still alive, well and fighting.”
The Airports Commission which is looking into the case for a third runway at Heathrow or a second runway at Gatwick is expected to make its recommendation towards the end of June. The next Government will need to decide whether or not to accept that recommendation.
March 6, 2015
