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SNP MPs 'may not back Heathrow expansion' SNP MPs to abstain in Heathrow third runway vote
(about 11 hours later)
The SNP could refuse to back Heathrow expansion in a key Commons vote on Monday, BBC Scotland has learned. The SNP has withdrawn its support for a third runway at Heathrow airport, hours before a key Commons vote on the move.
A senior party source said it had not been convinced by the case for a third runway. The UK government wants MPs to give the go-ahead for a third runway, which they say would boost the number of flights to and from Scotland.
The SNP had been expected to back the UK government in the vote. The Scottish government has been a longtime backer of the plans, and was still behind them on Sunday.
But the source said the party had been concerned in recent weeks about a lack of detail about how benefits would be delivered. However the SNP now says it will abstain from voting because there are "no guarantees of the benefits".
It now appears likely that the SNP's 35 MPs will abstain or possibly vote against the plans, although no final decision has been taken. The vote is still expected to pass, with the government pressing its own MPs to back the move and more than 40 Labour MPs expected to join them.
The Scottish government has previously backed Heathrow's bid for a third runway, saying it would bring economic benefits for Scotland. It has been projected that the expansion of Heathrow would create at least 100 extra landing slots from Heathrow to Scottish airports each week.
However, the SNP source said: "The government might well find out on Monday that they have run out of goodwill from the SNP over this. The Scottish government had previously backed Heathrow's bid for a third runway, saying it would bring economic benefits for Scotland.
"They have only themselves to blame for that." On Sunday, a Transport Scotland spokesman said the government "supports expansion at Heathrow airport" and "looks forward to Scotland seeing the benefits".
However, on Monday evening SNP MPs announced they would be abstaining because the UK government had "failed to make the case" for the move.
Transport spokesman Alan Brown said SNP members "could not vote for a third runway at Heathrow with no guarantees of the benefits".
More than 40 Labour MPs have backed expansion - meaning the government is unlikely to be defeated.More than 40 Labour MPs have backed expansion - meaning the government is unlikely to be defeated.
The UK government faces opposition in its own ranks, with a number of Conservatives who represent seats in Heathrow's flight path expected to rebel.The UK government faces opposition in its own ranks, with a number of Conservatives who represent seats in Heathrow's flight path expected to rebel.
Last week junior trade minister Greg Hands resigned from the government to oppose expansion of Heathrow Airport.Last week junior trade minister Greg Hands resigned from the government to oppose expansion of Heathrow Airport.
Mr Hands, who represents the Chelsea and Fulham constituency in London, said he had pledged to oppose the new runway at the 2017 election.Mr Hands, who represents the Chelsea and Fulham constituency in London, said he had pledged to oppose the new runway at the 2017 election.
Analysis - by Nick Eardley, BBC Scotland political correspondent Labour divisions
The SNP government in Edinburgh still officially backs Heathrow.
And it had been widely expected the SNP would back the government in the final Commons vote.
But I'm told there's unhappiness at what the party sees as a lack of detail about how the plans will benefit Scotland.
No final decision has been made, but some in the party now think there's little to no chance they'll back the plans tomorrow. I think it's likely they'll abstain rather than vote against.
Some will likely see this in the context of the SNP planning to disrupt government business at Westminster.
That plan relates more to Brexit legislation, but one source admitted to me there was more scope for this opposition in light of recent events.
The highest profile opponent of Heathrow expansion in the cabinet is Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, who once pledged to lie down in front of bulldozers to stop it happening.The highest profile opponent of Heathrow expansion in the cabinet is Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, who once pledged to lie down in front of bulldozers to stop it happening.
But he is scheduled to be out of the UK on Monday so will not be attending the vote in the House of Commons.But he is scheduled to be out of the UK on Monday so will not be attending the vote in the House of Commons.
Labour is also divided on the controversial issue, with members of the party's leadership, such as shadow chancellor John McDonnell, opposed to it, but high-profile trade union backers in favour.Labour is also divided on the controversial issue, with members of the party's leadership, such as shadow chancellor John McDonnell, opposed to it, but high-profile trade union backers in favour.
The party's MPs are being allowed to vote however they want to on the issue.The party's MPs are being allowed to vote however they want to on the issue.
Campaigners argue that a new runway will breach the UK's legal limits on air pollution and increase noise pollution with an extra 700 planes a day.Campaigners argue that a new runway will breach the UK's legal limits on air pollution and increase noise pollution with an extra 700 planes a day.