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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/08/heathrow-third-runway-expansion-boris-johnson-justine-greening-miss-commons-vote
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| Top anti-Heathrow Tories will miss vote on third runway Top anti-Heathrow Tories will miss vote on third runway | |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| The most high-profile cabinet critics of a third runway at Heathrow – Boris Johnson and Justine Greening – will be “unavoidably away” when the Commons votes on the issue. | The most high-profile cabinet critics of a third runway at Heathrow – Boris Johnson and Justine Greening – will be “unavoidably away” when the Commons votes on the issue. |
| With the prime minister expected to announce her support soon, No 10 is devising a strategy to avoid embarrassment for key figures. | With the prime minister expected to announce her support soon, No 10 is devising a strategy to avoid embarrassment for key figures. |
| A Whitehall document leaked last month suggests Theresa May could hold a free vote, potentially allowing some ministers to oppose a third runway. However, it is understood that the cabinet, at least, is more likely to be instructed to vote in support of the government’s position. | A Whitehall document leaked last month suggests Theresa May could hold a free vote, potentially allowing some ministers to oppose a third runway. However, it is understood that the cabinet, at least, is more likely to be instructed to vote in support of the government’s position. |
| Johnson, the foreign secretary, and Greening, the education secretary, will quietly be given leave to miss the vote. “Boris can easily be arranged to be on tour and Justine could be researching grammar schools in Malawi, or some such,” said one senior government source. | Johnson, the foreign secretary, and Greening, the education secretary, will quietly be given leave to miss the vote. “Boris can easily be arranged to be on tour and Justine could be researching grammar schools in Malawi, or some such,” said one senior government source. |
| Johnson, the MP for Uxbridge in west London, has previously said he is prepared to lie down “in front of bulldozers” to stop a third runwayfrom being built. However, it has been reported that he is now willing to accept such an outcome. The decision on airport expansion in south-east England was repeatedly delayed under David Cameron, who once ruled out a third runway at Heathrow with “no ifs, no buts”. | Johnson, the MP for Uxbridge in west London, has previously said he is prepared to lie down “in front of bulldozers” to stop a third runwayfrom being built. However, it has been reported that he is now willing to accept such an outcome. The decision on airport expansion in south-east England was repeatedly delayed under David Cameron, who once ruled out a third runway at Heathrow with “no ifs, no buts”. |
| Theresa May will chair a cabinet committee to make the final decision on 17 October, when she is expected to side with Heathrow’s bid. | Theresa May will chair a cabinet committee to make the final decision on 17 October, when she is expected to side with Heathrow’s bid. |
| That option was recommended by the Davies commission in 2015, but put off for further environmental studies until after the London mayoral election. The Conservative candidate in that poll, Zac Goldsmith, was fiercely opposed to expansion. | That option was recommended by the Davies commission in 2015, but put off for further environmental studies until after the London mayoral election. The Conservative candidate in that poll, Zac Goldsmith, was fiercely opposed to expansion. |
| Goldsmith, the MP for Richmond Park, has said he will quit his seat if the government approves such a plan and claimed on Friday that the expansion project would have to be bailed out by the taxpayer because it was “over-leveraged”, a claim denied by Heathrow. | Goldsmith, the MP for Richmond Park, has said he will quit his seat if the government approves such a plan and claimed on Friday that the expansion project would have to be bailed out by the taxpayer because it was “over-leveraged”, a claim denied by Heathrow. |
| Independent research was published last week suggesting that Heathrow could build a new runway without breaching pollution laws. | Independent research was published last week suggesting that Heathrow could build a new runway without breaching pollution laws. |
| Greening, the MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields, is one of the most vocal critics of Heathrow expansion and has not ruled out resigning on the issue. As mayor of London, Johnson also opposed the expansion of Heathrow, while the chancellor, Philip Hammond, said last year that he was in favour of expanding Gatwick instead. | Greening, the MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields, is one of the most vocal critics of Heathrow expansion and has not ruled out resigning on the issue. As mayor of London, Johnson also opposed the expansion of Heathrow, while the chancellor, Philip Hammond, said last year that he was in favour of expanding Gatwick instead. |
| In July, the Observer revealed that 36 Conservative MPs, led by the former party chairman Grant Shapps, had written to May to demand a decision on Heathrow, saying that it was “a matter of extreme urgency”. | In July, the Observer revealed that 36 Conservative MPs, led by the former party chairman Grant Shapps, had written to May to demand a decision on Heathrow, saying that it was “a matter of extreme urgency”. |
| Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, has said that he wants to “move rapidly” with a decision on the future of Heathrow airport to give certainty to businesses. | Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, has said that he wants to “move rapidly” with a decision on the future of Heathrow airport to give certainty to businesses. |