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Heathrow or Gatwick? Airport expansion decision day – politics live Heathrow or Gatwick? Airport expansion decision day – politics live
(35 minutes later)
10.51am BST
10:51
Looks like we’re going to be kept waiting for transport secretary Chris Grayling’s official confirmation of the decision...
And lo the delays begin. Heathrow statement in Commons delayed for Urgent Question
10.43am BST
10:43
Lib Dems are protesting outside Downing Street against a third runway at Heathrow.
Tom Brake addresses #Heathrow protest, that's Vince Cable in the middle in the hat pic.twitter.com/N3wgVv7c5y
Anti-#Heathrow protest for Lib Dems outside Downing Street pic.twitter.com/3it07detVV
10.39am BST
10:39
Green party MEPs believe it’s a done deal in favour of Heathrow (as the BBC is reporting citing anonymous sources).
Keith Taylor, Green MEP for the south east, who sits on the European Parliament’s transport committee, said:
There are no two ways about it; this is a disastrous decision for the people of the south east, London, Britain, and the planet. Welcome to Theresa May’s never-never land, where prime ministers never have to listen to scientists and never have to apologise for increasing CO2 emissions and air pollution levels.
The Maidenhead MP has flip-flopped on her previous opposition to Heathrow and has kowtowed to the demands of multi-million-pound airport lobbies while ignoring the concerns of her own constituents and the need to take urgent action to mitigate catastrophic climate change. Is this what the prime minister had in mind when she promised to build a Britain not driven by the interests of a privileged few?
Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London, said:
Contrary to all the evidence Theresa May has decided to forge ahead with the expansion of Heathrow airport regardless of the dreadful impact this will have on the local community, London and indeed the planet.”
This decision is clearly incompatible with Britain’s recent agreement to ratify the Paris agreement and will further contribute to air pollution for my constituents in London and beyond.
10.23am BST10.23am BST
10:2310:23
This is the message from Clear Air in London:This is the message from Clear Air in London:
MODERATE and HIGH #airpollution around Heathrow today and forever unless #NoRunway #NoNewRunways HT @airTEXT pic.twitter.com/qFAzxH2lSMMODERATE and HIGH #airpollution around Heathrow today and forever unless #NoRunway #NoNewRunways HT @airTEXT pic.twitter.com/qFAzxH2lSM
10.19am BST10.19am BST
10:1910:19
It is probably too late for this...It is probably too late for this...
Last minute call to @theresa_may – expansion of #Heathrow would be disastrous for West London #notoheathrow @BBCBreaking @BBCNews pic.twitter.com/cZg10cYfgDLast minute call to @theresa_may – expansion of #Heathrow would be disastrous for West London #notoheathrow @BBCBreaking @BBCNews pic.twitter.com/cZg10cYfgD
10.10am BST10.10am BST
10:1010:10
The BBC’s political editor says Heathrow has got the green light (which is what most people are expecting).The BBC’s political editor says Heathrow has got the green light (which is what most people are expecting).
So, it seems done (at last!) Source tells me Heathrow did get the nod in committee this morning - No 10 won't confirm or deny, cabinet nowSo, it seems done (at last!) Source tells me Heathrow did get the nod in committee this morning - No 10 won't confirm or deny, cabinet now
10.09am BST10.09am BST
10:0910:09
The meeting of the airports sub-committee has taken place, which means a decision has been taken ...but we await the details of what it is.The meeting of the airports sub-committee has taken place, which means a decision has been taken ...but we await the details of what it is.
Theresa May is currently communicating her decision to the cabinet.Theresa May is currently communicating her decision to the cabinet.
10.01am BST10.01am BST
10:0110:01
Green party co-leader Caroline Lucas is at the protest outside the Houses of Parliament. She says the message is “expanding aviation is not compatible with ...climate change objectives”.Green party co-leader Caroline Lucas is at the protest outside the Houses of Parliament. She says the message is “expanding aviation is not compatible with ...climate change objectives”.
Our message is very clear. There should be no airport expansion at either #Heathrow or #Gatwick. #NoNewRunways pic.twitter.com/S2qnWQM4bUOur message is very clear. There should be no airport expansion at either #Heathrow or #Gatwick. #NoNewRunways pic.twitter.com/S2qnWQM4bU
Lucas has not ruled out taking direct action herself.Lucas has not ruled out taking direct action herself.
Just spoke to @CarolineLucas who tells me she's not ruling out chaining herself to the Heathrow runway in direct action @LBCJust spoke to @CarolineLucas who tells me she's not ruling out chaining herself to the Heathrow runway in direct action @LBC
9.49am BST9.49am BST
09:4909:49
Protesters against airport expansion have been making their point outside the Houses of Parliament this morning.Protesters against airport expansion have been making their point outside the Houses of Parliament this morning.
UpdatedUpdated
at 9.53am BSTat 9.53am BST
9.47am BST9.47am BST
09:4709:47
WWF UK and Friends of the Earth have both criticised the decision to approve new runway capacity.WWF UK and Friends of the Earth have both criticised the decision to approve new runway capacity.
WWF UK’s director of advocacy, Trevor Hutchings, said:WWF UK’s director of advocacy, Trevor Hutchings, said:
Expanding airport capacity makes little business and no environmental sense. The government plans to ratify the Paris treaty, committing us to reduce the UK’s carbon footprint – and just weeks ago it helped to broker a deal that aims to reduce emissions from international aviation. Bringing more air traffic to London’s busy airports flies in the face of that objective.Expanding airport capacity makes little business and no environmental sense. The government plans to ratify the Paris treaty, committing us to reduce the UK’s carbon footprint – and just weeks ago it helped to broker a deal that aims to reduce emissions from international aviation. Bringing more air traffic to London’s busy airports flies in the face of that objective.
Before any concrete is poured the government should publish a credible plan for driving down aviation emissions. And its industrial strategy must unequivocally commit to low-carbon growth, providing long-term clarity for investors in clean energy, infrastructure and transport.Before any concrete is poured the government should publish a credible plan for driving down aviation emissions. And its industrial strategy must unequivocally commit to low-carbon growth, providing long-term clarity for investors in clean energy, infrastructure and transport.
Friends of the Earth’s head of campaigns Andrew Pendleton, who lives under the Heathrow flightpath in west London, said:Friends of the Earth’s head of campaigns Andrew Pendleton, who lives under the Heathrow flightpath in west London, said:
We won’t tackle climate change if Heathrow or Gatwick airports are allowed to expand.We won’t tackle climate change if Heathrow or Gatwick airports are allowed to expand.
Expanding airports anywhere will cause more noise and air pollution, with millions of people under flightpaths facing hundreds of extra flights every day.Expanding airports anywhere will cause more noise and air pollution, with millions of people under flightpaths facing hundreds of extra flights every day.
Ministers must realise that signing the Paris agreement requires action too. We can’t keep giving the green light to climate-wrecking activities such as more flights and fracking.Ministers must realise that signing the Paris agreement requires action too. We can’t keep giving the green light to climate-wrecking activities such as more flights and fracking.
Whatever the decision, campaigners, communities and councils will continue the fight against airport expansion - and the pollution and misery this would bring.Whatever the decision, campaigners, communities and councils will continue the fight against airport expansion - and the pollution and misery this would bring.
9.42am BST
09:42
Esther Addley
Sandeep Chopra, who has run the village shop in Harmondsworth for the past six years, said the decision to build a third runway at Heathrow, forcing the demolition or evacuation of most of the village, would “destroy my life”.
I will lose everything - my business, my house. It’s not easy going somewhere and starting again.
As a leaseholder, he said, he did not think he would be entitled to compensation.
I have a large family, we don’t take anything from the government in housing benefit or anything like that, and we all depend on this shop.
That included his wife and theee children, his parents, sister and brother, he said.
Harmondsworth is “a proper village”, he said, pointing to the large reservoir nearby, the two village churches and the medieval barn, run by English Heritage.
It’s a residents’ shop. People love the community, and they support us.
9.33am BST
09:33
Greenhouse gas emissions could consume around half the carbon budget available to the UK in 2050, even if the sector’s emissions growth is constrained, according to analysis by Carbon Brief.
It says:
In its most recent forecasts of demand for air travel, the government said that even without a new runway at Heathrow, UK airports would serve 445 million passengers per annum (mppa) in 2050. This is more than twice the 211 mppa served in 2010.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said UK aviation emissions, including international flights departing from UK airports, would reach 47MtCO2e by 2050 without airport expansion. With new runways, passenger numbers could rise to 480mppa, the DfT says. Carbon Brief estimates this would translate into emissions of 51MtCO2e in 2050.
This figure is more than two-thirds (71%) of the 72MtCO2e mid-range carbon budget for 2050 implied by the CCC (Committee on Climate Change, the government’s official advisers), if the UK is to play its part in meeting the ambition of the Paris agreement. It is also nearly a third (32%) of the budget for 2C, assuming the UK sticks with its 80% by 2050 target.
Updated
at 9.46am BST
9.25am BST
09:25
This is a reminder of just how long we have been waiting for this decision:
Today's news is making me nostalgic. Govt gives green light to new runways at Stansted and Heathrow - by me in 2003 https://t.co/7YClECmuWT
9.22am BST
09:22
Greenpeace has reiterated that it will, with local councils around Heathrow, take legal action if a third runway at the UK’s biggest airport is given the go-ahead.
Executive director John Sauven said:
Is the May government about to repeat the error of the Brown government and assume both the laws of nature and the law of the land can be fudged to allow another runway? That was the mistake Gordon Brown made shortly before the High Court blocked his Heathrow plan. We stand ready, with four Conservative local authorities, including Theresa May’s own council, to bring a judicial review against a green light for a third runway.
9.15am BST
09:15
Esther Addley
In Harmondsworth, one of a handful of villages set to be partly or wholly demolished if Heathrow expands, residents and campaigners began gathering early in the Five Bells pub, on the village green.
Emma Steele, who lives a few doors down, opposite where the new runway is scheduled to be built, said she was “not shocked, but definitely angry” at the widespread assumption that Heathrow will be chosen.
I elected David Cameron because he promised no third runway, and then it all gets U-turned around. I’m shocked Theresa May can let us down like this.
The prospect of the loss of the village, she said, “almost makes you speechless. It’s apocalyptic.”
On the small village green, campaigners were hammering banners showing politicians, including May, voicing their opposition to Heathrow expansion in the past.
Christine Frangleton, the pub’s manager, said she had been told it would just escape demolition, along with the Norman church of St Mary’s (on left of picture above) and a grade I listed medieval barn, but they were not convinced.
Even if it were allowed to stand, however, “You couldn’t possibly run a business when the runway is just over there. You couldn’t even live here,” she said.
“I’m not shocked, but what most people are disappointed with is the delay. We are so tired of it.”
8.46am BST
08:46
John Allan, chairman of London First, told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme:
From a UK perspective Heathrow is probably the right answer, but the critical thing is that they make a decision.
What we want above all is more airport capacity in the south east. The most important thing is to get on with it. Even though it is only a step in the road, it is a very important step in the road.
8.38am BST
08:38
Here is a potted history of Heathrow:
This is how #Heathrow grew from a tiny airfield to a major hub with 75 million people passing through each year pic.twitter.com/PMzjBslYpC
8.36am BST
08:36
Jeremy Taylor, from Gatwick Diamond Business, told the BBC it is “disappointing” that Heathrow is the frontrunner. He also said that a third runway at the capital’s largest airport is unviable, partly because of the level of opposition to it, and a decision in favour of expansion there would just be “delaying the day when we see a second runway coming to Gatwick”.
Campaigners hoping #Gatwick Airport will be chosen for expansion today instead of #Heathrow express disappointment. pic.twitter.com/g9VoqUv1sq
8.30am BST
08:30
Daniel Moylan, a consultant for Gatwick Airport, described the Heathrow expansion option as “rubbish” when he was aviation advisor to then-mayor of London Boris Johnson.
He ttold BBC Radio Four’s Today programme
Well, I’ve always thought that Heathrow is a rubbish idea, going back the last 15 years.
The pattern of history we see here is that there’s a group of people who keep batting for another runway at Heathrow. They keep coming forward with proposals, they always fail. And instead of learning their lessons, they have another go at the brick wall.
8.27am BST
08:27
One of the cabinet members opposed to Heathrow expansion has arrived at Downing Street.
Education Sec. Justine Greening arrives at No.10. She's opposed to Heathrow. As has Chris Grayling, Transport Sec. he'll make announcement.
Greening’s constituency of Putney, Roehampton and Southfields stands to be adversely affected in terms of aircraft noise by an expanded Heathrow.