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Greg Hands quits as minister to vote against Heathrow third runway Greg Hands quits as minister to vote against Heathrow third runway
(about 7 hours later)
The international trade minister has resigned in order to vote against Heathrow expansion when plans for a third runway are put to the Commons on Monday. Theresa May is facing a fresh crisis after her international trade minister quit in protest at the proposed expansion of Heathrow days before a crunch vote on the issue.
Greg Hands’s resignation came as the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said he would join legal action against the third runway if MPs voted to approve it. Greg Hands, whose constituency lies under the flightpath, announced he would step down so he could vote against the government’s plans for a third runway in the Commons on Monday.
Hands, the MP for Chelsea and Fulham and a longstanding opponent of Heathrow expansion, wrote on Twitter: “As the government will be whipping the vote on Monday, this means I am resigning from the government. The announcement increased the pressure on the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, another staunch critic of Heathrow expansion, to stand by his principles and vote against the government’s plans.
“It has been an honour to serve the prime minister (and her predecessor) for the last seven years and I wish the PM [and] the government every continuing success.” The prime minister confirmed on Thursday that Johnson was scheduled to be out of the country next week, allowing him to escape having to choose between resignation and rebelling against May.
A Downing Street source said: “He had been categoric to his constituents that he would vote against the third runway, so it is not a massive surprise that he has resigned. It is a three-line whip.” Labour challenged Johnson to join Hands, the MP for Chelsea and Fulham, in opposing the plan, even if it cost him his cabinet role, suggesting he was weak for choosing to travel abroad just so that he could keep his job.
Andy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary, said: “Greg Hands’s resignation piles the pressure on Boris Johnson, who promised his constituents he would ‘lie down in front of the bulldozers’ to stop a third runway. Instead he is jetting off to Luxembourg on Monday to avoid the vote because he is too weak to stand by his promises.” The proposed £14bn Heathrow expansion is almost certain to get the backing of the Commons. Conservative MPs have been told there is a three-line whip to vote in favour, while Labour has given its MPs a free vote.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “Greg Hands has served the government with great ability and distinction over several years and we thank him for all his work. This government is committed to expanding airport capacity at Heathrow – this is an important decision which will play a crucial role in securing the future of [a] global Britain.” May joked with reporters at a press conference on Thursday that her foreign secretary would be supporting “global Britain” in a different way.
The government’s plan to expand the west London airport is almost certain to get the green light in the Commons next week. Conservative MPs have been told there is a three-line whip to vote in favour of the proposed £14bn expansion. Labour MPs will get a free vote. “The government is absolutely committed to increasing airport capacity at Heathrow,” she said. “This is important, it is part of our future as global Britain and the ambitions we have as a trading nation for the future. And the foreign secretary, early next week, will be what I would describe as a living embodiment of global Britain.
Johnson, the foreign secretary and one of the expansion’s most vocal opponents, is due to be abroad on the day of the vote, allowing him to escape having to choose between resignation and rebelling against Theresa May. “He will be out there showing the UK’s continued presence around the world and the work that the UK continues to do around the world, with our diplomacy, working on so many of the issues and the challenges that we face across the world today.”
The former transport secretary Justine Greening, a fierce opponent of Heathrow, told the Guardian she was “very sad” Hands had been forced to quit. “It’s totally wrong that Conservative MPs are not allowed a free vote to represent their local longstanding concerns on Heathrow pollution,” she said. The prime minister did not say where Johnson would be on Monday, and no further details were expected to be released for security reasons. Early suggestions that he may be attending a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg were ruled out when it emerged that Sir Alan Duncan, Johnson’s deputy, would attend instead.
Andy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary, said: “Greg Hands’s resignation piles the pressure on Boris Johnson, who promised his constituents he would ‘lie down in front of the bulldozers’ to stop a third runway. Instead he is jetting off on Monday to avoid the vote because he is too weak to stand by his promises.”
In his resignation letter to May, Hands said he was stepping down “with great regret” and promised he would “continue to be loyal” to the prime minister.
“I promised my constituents at the last general election that I would vote against should the matter come to parliament and I feel strongly that politicians must have credibility to ensure public confidence in our democratic system,” he said. “My reasons for opposing the third runway are well-known and well-documented.”
Hands hinted he felt unable to simply leave the country and miss the vote like the foreign secretary. “I intend to keep my promise to my constituents and vote against the proposal, and with it now being a whipped vote, I must therefore resign.”
In her reply to Hands, May said she understood the desire to fulfil his promise. She said the government was committed to expansion, but added: “I understand, however, that this is an issue which raises concerns for some of your constituents.”
The former transport secretary Justine Greening, a fierce opponent of Heathrow expansion, said she was “very sad” that Hands had been forced to quit. “It’s totally wrong that Conservative MPs are not allowed a free vote to represent their local longstanding concerns on Heathrow pollution,” she said.
“Other Conservative MPs have also voiced concerns to me about Heathrow expansion more broadly. If the secretary of state for transport was confident of his case he should allow a free vote. Because that’s not the case, the government has lost a very capable minister.”“Other Conservative MPs have also voiced concerns to me about Heathrow expansion more broadly. If the secretary of state for transport was confident of his case he should allow a free vote. Because that’s not the case, the government has lost a very capable minister.”
Khan said he would join legal action against the third runway if MPs voted to approve it next week. May faced a further headache after Greening wrote to MPs on Thursday to warn them that regional airports across the north of England would lose more than 28,000 international flights a year by 2030 as a direct result of the expansion plans.
“While I believe in a better Heathrow, I do not believe a bigger Heathrow is the right answer for London and I remain committed to opposing such a short-sighted decision,” he told the Guardian. “There are no plans on how to deal with the valid concerns about Heathrow expansion.” Doncaster would lose 25% of its international flights, Newcastle would lose 14%, Manchester and Leeds Bradford airports would each lose 11% and Liverpool would lose 7%, according to analysis of Department for Transport data.
Khan said he would support the legal action set to be brought by local authorities. “This will be a critical moment, and for the sake of Londoners affected by poor air quality, disruption from noise and the costs needed to improve transport connections, I will do what I can to stop these poor plans,” he said. “To use taxpayers’ money to support a private company to become more like a monopoly to grow and stifle competition everywhere else in the country seems nonsensical. To have a strategy that centres on London at the direct expense of connections for the rest of the country also seems wrong,” Greening wrote.
“The south-east of England is in need of additional airport capacity, but I believe the government is pressing ahead with the wrong decision to build a new runway at Heathrow. It is my view that a second runway at Gatwick is a better option.” Labour MPs, especially those in northern England, have argued that the plans are crucial to connectivity from regional airports, and expansion is likely to be supported by the majority of SNP MPs for similar reasons.
Last year, the mayor directed Transport for London to provide advice and assistance to affected borough councils, including Hillingdon, Richmond, Wandsworth, and Windsor and Maidenhead, as they prepared for the joint legal challenge with Greenpeace against the Heathrow plan. Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said that he would join legal action if MPs backed a third runway. “While I believe in a better Heathrow, I do not believe a bigger Heathrow is the right answer for London and I remain committed to opposing such a short-sighted decision,” he said. “There are no plans on how to deal with the valid concerns about Heathrow expansion.”
On Wednesday, Jeremy Corbyn said he would not whip Labour MPs to vote against the national policy statement, which contains the principles for the airport expansion plans, though the party has said it does not meet Labour’s four tests on issues such as air pollution and jobs. Last year, the mayor directed Transport for London to provide advice and assistance to affected borough councils including Hillingdon, Richmond, Wandsworth and Windsor and Maidenhead as they prepared for a joint legal challenge with Greenpeace against the Heathrow plan.
Scores of Labour MPs and large trade unions are in favour of expansion but there is also likely to be significant opposition, including from the Labour leader and the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, as well as senior Tories. On Wednesday, Jeremy Corbyn said he would not whip Labour MPs to vote against the national policy statement, which contains the principles for the airport expansion plans, though Labour has said it does not meet the party’s four tests on issues such as air pollution and jobs.
Tory sources are predicting that only a handful of Tory MPs will rebel, including Greening and Zac Goldsmith. Up to 100 Labour MPs are expected to back the plans. Up to 100 Labour MPs and large trade unions are in favour of expansion but there is also likely to be significant opposition, including from Corbyn and the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell. Only a handful of Tory MPs are expected rebel, including Hands, Greening and Zac Goldsmith.
Labour MPs, especially those in northern England, have argued that the plans are crucial to connectivity from regional airports, and expansion is likely to be supported by the majority of SNP MPs for similar reasons, though government sources said there was some frustration that their support was “soft”. May has allowed ministers a “waiver” from collective responsibility on the policy. Ministers who oppose Heathrow, such as Johnson, have been permitted to express opposition but only to local media.
The prime minister has allowed ministers a “waiver” from collective responsibility on the policy. Ministers who oppose Heathrow, such as Johnson, have been permitted to express opposition but only to local media.
If the MPs approve the statement, the next stage is a public consultation and judicial review, after which the government can then give planning permission, known as a development consent order.If the MPs approve the statement, the next stage is a public consultation and judicial review, after which the government can then give planning permission, known as a development consent order.
Transport policy
Heathrow airportHeathrow airport
Conservatives
Heathrow third runwayHeathrow third runway
Air transport Conservatives
LondonLondon
TransportTransport
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