Third Runway Decision Delayed
Announcement will not be made 'at least' until October
The Government has postponed its decision on a Third Runway.
David Cameron was due to make an announcement next month on whether or not it was going to proceed with the project but his resignation following the Brexit decision has changed plans.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has just told Parliament at Transport Questions that a decision on airport expansion will be put back until "at least October".
With Boris Johnson odds on with the bookies to be Prime Minister in October, anti-expansion campaigners believe that the Third Runway could be off the agenda for the foreseeable future with an opponent of the plan running the Government.
John Stewart, chair of HACAN, said, ''This was inevitable. Given the divisions within the Cabinet, David Cameron would not have been able to saddle a new Prime Minister with a new runway. It is likely now that the runway question will become an issue in the race to become Prime Minister. There will be pressure on each candidate to spell out where they stand.''
Mr Holland-Kaye said, “If Britain wants to be confident, outward-looking and at the centre of the world’s economy then expanding Heathrow must be a key building block in the Government’s Brexit plan.
“It will allow British exporters to trade with all the growing markets of the world, strengthening Britain’s position as one of the great trading nations. And at a time of uncertainty a £16bn privately funded infrastructure investment will create jobs and growth across the UK.
“Government can send the strongest possible signal that Britain is open for business and confident in its future by expanding Heathrow.”
30 June 2016
