Senior Tories attack Boris Johnson for missing Heathrow vote
Minister avoids three-line whip with Afghanistan trip
Senior Tory MPs have criticised Boris Johnson for missing a critical vote on Heathrow expansion.
Mr Johnson has previously said he would lie down in front of bulldozers to prevent construction of the £14 billion third runway, but today he arrived in Afghanistan to hold talks with the country’s deputy foreign minister, conveniently avoiding a three-line whip in Westminster.
Date: 25 June 2018
Pros Of Heathrow Expansion
- Economic advantage.The third runway will boost the economy and is estimated to be worth £7bn a year to the economy, according to airport owner BAA.
- Heathrow requires more capacity. Heathrow runs at close to 100% capacity. With demand for air travel predicted to double in a generation, Heathrow will not be able to cope without a third runway, say those in favour of the plan.
- Pollution concerns are overplayed. Those pushing for the new runway argue that pollution caused by the airport will be closely monitored. Meeting targets is a condition of expansion.
- There is no viable alternative. Building a new airport in the Thames Estuary is not viable because of a lack of infrastructure.
Against Heathrow Expansion
- Increase in emissions.Heathrow generates 50% of UK aviation emissions. This makes 6% of total emissions, according to Department for Transport figures. With a third runway and as the UK as a whole cuts emissions, Heathrow’s contribution to overall UK emissions would rise significantly by 2050, some calculate to as much as 50% of total.
- Londoner’s health at risk.A Greater London Authority (GLA) report suggested Heathrow would even now breach the EU regulations on levels of Nitrous Oxide due to come into force in 2010. Extra flights would only make this worse.
- Overstated economic case.Many of the new passengers the extra runway would bring would be transit passengers. According to former BA boss Bob Ayling they would spend little or nothing in London, only boosting airline profits. According to Sir David King, former chief scientific adviser to the government, the runway would over time come to be seen as a ‘white elephant’.
- Impact on local area.Transport infrastructure around Heathrow already struggles. The extra demands would create gridlock.To make way for the runway, Sipson – a village of 700 houses – would be demolished and hundreds of acres of greenbelt land would be swallowed up.
- Location. For historical reasons, Heathrow is badly located. It is the only major airport with flight paths over a large capital city, for instance. Some, like London Mayor Boris Johnson, believe this is a perfect opportunity to start again and propose a new airport in the Thames Estuary.Planes would approach and leave over water, reducing the impact of noise and the airport could operate 24 hours a day.
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