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Heathrow or Gatwick? Airport expansion decision day – politics live Heathrow expansion: government approves third runway for London airport - live
(35 minutes later)
10.51am BST 11.39am BST
10:51 11:39
Looks like we’re going to be kept waiting for transport secretary Chris Grayling’s official confirmation of the decision... Gwyn Topham
And lo the delays begin. Heathrow statement in Commons delayed for Urgent Question The Campaign for Better Transport said the decision to back a third runway was scandalous.
10.43am BST Chief executive, Stephen Joseph, said:
10:43 It’s scandalous that the government has completely ignored the environmental impact of a new runway, or the costs it will impose on people on lower incomes with the huge sums the Airports Commission proposes adding to the cost of plane tickets to allow a new runway to be built. There is also the huge cost to the taxpayer of providing the addition surface access to Heathrow, which Transport for London’s own research shows is likely to be at least £17 bn, and how this will siphon off money from other schemes to tackle London’s already overcrowded transport network.
Lib Dems are protesting outside Downing Street against a third runway at Heathrow. The charity is calling for a frequent flyer levy to reduce the growth in demand for flights which is says comes from a small, wealthy minority, and thereby remove the need for a new runway.
Tom Brake addresses #Heathrow protest, that's Vince Cable in the middle in the hat pic.twitter.com/N3wgVv7c5y Friends of the Earth’s head of campaigns Andrew Pendleton, who lives under the flightpath in west London, said:
Anti-#Heathrow protest for Lib Dems outside Downing Street pic.twitter.com/3it07detVV Expanding Heathrow would be a hugely damaging blow for local people, and makes a complete mockery of government commitments to tackle climate change. With the government poised to sign the Paris climate agreement, it’s decision to expand Heathrow – shortly after forcing fracking on the people of Lancashire – looks deeply cynical.
10.39am BST He warned:
10:39 However this is only the first step on a long journey that will see communities, councils and climate campaigners continue the battle to reverse this misjudged and damaging decision.
Green party MEPs believe it’s a done deal in favour of Heathrow (as the BBC is reporting citing anonymous sources). 11.35am BST
Keith Taylor, Green MEP for the south east, who sits on the European Parliament’s transport committee, said: 11:35
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. Confirming the decision to build a third runway at Heathrow, transport secretary Chris Grayling says the government has made a “momentous” decision today:
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? The step that government is taking today is truly momentous. I am proud that after years of discussion and delay this government is taking decisive action to secure the UK’s place in the global aviation market – securing jobs and business opportunities for the next decade and beyond.
Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London, said: A new runway at Heathrow will improve connectivity in the UK itself and crucially boost our connections with the rest of the world, supporting exports, trade and job opportunities. This isn’t just a great deal for business, it’s a great deal for passengers who will also benefit from access to more airlines, destinations and flights.
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 is an important issue for the whole country. That is why the government’s preferred scheme will be subject to full and fair public consultation. Of course it is also hugely important for those living near the airport. That is why we have made clear that expansion will only be allowed to proceed on the basis of a world class package of compensation and mitigation worth up to £2.6 billion, including community support, insulation, and respite from noise – balancing the benefits and the impacts of expansion.
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. The Department for Transport said a new runway at Heathrow will bring economic benefits to passengers and the wider economy worth up to £61 billion. Up to 77,000 additional local jobs are expected to be created over the next 14 years and the airport has committed to create 5,000 new apprenticeships over the same period, it said.
10.23am BST The DfT pledged “a world class package of compensation and mitigation measures for local communities”.
10:23 11.30am BST
This is the message from Clear Air in London: 11:30
MODERATE and HIGH #airpollution around Heathrow today and forever unless #NoRunway #NoNewRunways HT @airTEXT pic.twitter.com/qFAzxH2lSM We now have official government confirmation:
10.19am BST Govt confirms it is backing third runway at Heathrow – "the first full length runway in the south-east since the second world war"
10:19 11.29am BST
It is probably too late for this... 11:29
Last minute call to @theresa_may – expansion of #Heathrow would be disastrous for West London #notoheathrow @BBCBreaking @BBCNews pic.twitter.com/cZg10cYfgD It looks like we will be waiting at least until this evening for Zac Goldsmith’s promised resignation in the event that a third runway at Heathrow was given the go ahead.
10.10am BST Zac Goldsmith latest: no immediate resignation this afternoon, speaking to constituents first. Statement this evening.
10:10 11.27am BST
The BBC’s political editor says Heathrow has got the green light (which is what most people are expecting). 11:27
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 now A Labour source said:
10.09am BST Seems the way the country is finding out about the decision on Heathrow is through a series of leaks - sums up the government’s disregard for those affected.
10:09 11.23am BST
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. 11:23
Theresa May is currently communicating her decision to the cabinet. Other cabinet members have also been responding to the apparent choice of Heathrow:
10.01am BST Liz Truss nods to camera when she's asked if it's a good decision on Heathrow.. Others, including expansion fan Sajid Javid, poker faced.
10:01 Greg Clark, communities secretary, smiles and nods when he's asked if Heathrow is a good decision
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”. 11.21am BST
Our message is very clear. There should be no airport expansion at either #Heathrow or #Gatwick. #NoNewRunways pic.twitter.com/S2qnWQM4bU 11:21
Lucas has not ruled out taking direct action herself. Boris Johnson appears to have confirmed the decision, leaving Number 10:
Just spoke to @CarolineLucas who tells me she's not ruling out chaining herself to the Heathrow runway in direct action @LBC Boris Johnson leaving cabinet. Will you continue to oppose Heathrow ?"Yes"
9.49am BST
09:49
Protesters against airport expansion have been making their point outside the Houses of Parliament this morning.
UpdatedUpdated
at 9.53am BST at 11.37am BST
9.47am BST 11.14am BST
09:47 11:14
WWF UK and Friends of the Earth have both criticised the decision to approve new runway capacity. Gwyn Topham
WWF UK’s director of advocacy, Trevor Hutchings, said: A decision that a third runway will be built at Heathrow paves the way for hundreds of thousands more flights a year at the London airport.
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. In the long-awaited response, the government looks as if it has endorsed the recommendation of the Airports Commission to expand Heathrow rather than Gatwick airport, which had hoped to build a second runway.
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. The move comes six years after the Conservative-led coalition scrapped previous plans for a third runway at Heathrow.
Friends of the Earth’s head of campaigns Andrew Pendleton, who lives under the Heathrow flightpath in west London, said: The decision to grow Heathrow will be voted on by parliament in 2017 or 2018. Under the airport’s proposed scheme, an additional runway and a sixth terminal will be built to the northwest of the existing airport perimeter at a cost of £17.6bn, demolishing the nearby village of Harmondsworth.
We won’t tackle climate change if Heathrow or Gatwick airports are allowed to expand. Widespread protests and legal challenges are expected to follow the decision, with campaigners expected to focus on air quality, noise and Britain’s climate change commitments. The runway, which could be built by 2025, would mean almost 50% more planes over London, bringing new neighbourhoods under the flightpath.
Expanding airports anywhere will cause more noise and air pollution, with millions of people under flightpaths facing hundreds of extra flights every day. Updated
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. at 11.20am BST
Whatever the decision, campaigners, communities and councils will continue the fight against airport expansion - and the pollution and misery this would bring. 11.13am BST
11:13
John Stewart, chair of the campaign group HACAN, which has been fighting a third runway at Heathrow, said:
As expected, permission for a new runway has been made dependent on certain legal conditions being met. HACAN will fight for the implementation of these measures whether we get a third runway or Heathrow ultimately remains a two runway airport.
Countless residents will be dismayed and distraught by this decision. Some will lose their homes. Some face the daunting prospect of living under a noisy flight path for the first time. And many others will get yet more planes over their heads. But real doubts must remain whether this new runway will ever see the light of day. The hurdles it faces remain: costs, noise, air pollution and widespread opposition including an expected legal challenge from the local authorities.
11.07am BST
11:07
Heathrow third runway approved, campaigner says
Gwyn Topham
John Stewart, one of the leading campaigners against a third runway at Heathrow, has said that the decision has been made with “legal conditions” that the airport will have to meet.
Updated
at 11.08am BST