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Tories blast Heathrow runway plan Heathrow plans criticised by MPs
(about 1 hour later)
Building a new runway at Heathrow would have an "unacceptable" impact on local communities and the environment, the Conservatives have said.Building a new runway at Heathrow would have an "unacceptable" impact on local communities and the environment, the Conservatives have said.
Opening a Commons debate on the plans to expand Heathrow, shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers called for a "better not bigger" airport. Opening a Commons debate on the plans to expand Heathrow, shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers called for a "better, not bigger airport".
Earlier, a Labour MP quit his government post in protest at the plan. Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon accused the Tories of "political opportunism".
Andrew Slaughter stepped down as an aide to Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown to campaign against it. Earlier, Labour MP Andrew Slaughter quit his government post in protest to campaign against the proposal.
MPs are debating the controversial £9bn project on Wednesday and despite an anticipated rebellion by up to 40 Labour MPs, ministers are expected to win a vote after making a number of concessions over the runway. Mr Slaughter stepped down as an aide to Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown, saying he believed the £9bn project could still be blocked.
MPs are debating the controversial £9bn project on Wednesday and despite an anticipated rebellion by up to 40 Labour MPs, ministers are believed to be expecting to win a vote after making a number of concessions over the runway.
'Unconvincing''Unconvincing'
Labour rebel Paul Flynn claims government whips are piling pressure on the party's MPs and are even flying some of them back from Strasbourg, where they have been attending a Council of Europe plenary session, to vote for a third runway.Labour rebel Paul Flynn claims government whips are piling pressure on the party's MPs and are even flying some of them back from Strasbourg, where they have been attending a Council of Europe plenary session, to vote for a third runway.
Mr Flynn - who accuses the government of offering "flights for votes" - said those Labour MPs like himself who were returning from Strasbourg to vote against the government would not get their travel costs reimbursed as a "disincentive". Mr Flynn - who accuses the government of offering "flights for votes" - said those Labour MPs like himself who were returning from Strasbourg to vote against the government would not get their travel costs reimbursed. The decision by the Conservative policy [to oppose expansion] is political opportunism of the lowest kind Geoff Hoon, Transport Secretary
The Labour whips office confirmed that some Labour MPs were flying back to vote but they refused to say how many or comment on Mr Flynn's claims that those who opposed the government would have to pay their own travel costs.
Explaining the Conservatives' opposition to the runway, Ms Villiers said the expansion would lead to an unacceptable increase in air and noise pollution while proposed environmental safeguards did not "stand up to scrutiny".Explaining the Conservatives' opposition to the runway, Ms Villiers said the expansion would lead to an unacceptable increase in air and noise pollution while proposed environmental safeguards did not "stand up to scrutiny".
She said it was no longer possible to "stuff thousands more flights and millions more passengers into an overcrowded corner" of the country and said the economic arguments for expansion were "wholly unconvincing".She said it was no longer possible to "stuff thousands more flights and millions more passengers into an overcrowded corner" of the country and said the economic arguments for expansion were "wholly unconvincing".
'Dodgy'
The Tories had a "credible" plan to make Heathrow better, she added, with the construction of "viable" new high-speed rail links relieving overcrowding at the airport.The Tories had a "credible" plan to make Heathrow better, she added, with the construction of "viable" new high-speed rail links relieving overcrowding at the airport.
Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon said the Conservatives had failed to spell out what criteria they would use to judge acceptable limits for air and noise quality and that their arguments could not be "taken seriously".Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon said the Conservatives had failed to spell out what criteria they would use to judge acceptable limits for air and noise quality and that their arguments could not be "taken seriously".
"The Tory party cannot say it rejects expansion without describing the basis on which the decision is taken," he said. Given the airport's importance as a global transport hub and current strains on its capacity, failure to expand Heathrow would do "serious damage to Britain's jobs and economy".
"The decision by the Conservative policy [to oppose expansion] is political opportunism of the lowest kind," he said.
Opposition from residents and green groups means that we can stop a third runway being built Andrew SlaughterOpposition from residents and green groups means that we can stop a third runway being built Andrew Slaughter
When it gave the go-ahead for the runway - which could be built by 2019 - earlier this month, the government said it would impose tight conditions on further expansion to limit its environmental impact. Lib Dem transport spokesman Norman Baker said the case for expansion was "dodgy" and there was "overwhelming opposition" to the plan.
There will be a cap on the number of flights initially allowed to use the new runway and slots will only be given to airlines with the newest, least polluting aircraft. The "massive" increase in flights being proposed could not be reconciled with the government's target of cutting carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, he added.
The development would result in the demolition of 750 homes and the disappearance the village of Sipson. When it gave the go-ahead for the runway earlier this month, the government said it would impose tight conditions on further expansion to limit its environmental impact.
There will be a cap on the number of flights initially allowed to use the new runway and "green slots" will only be given to airlines with the newest, least polluting aircraft.
But the development would result in the demolition of 750 homes and the disappearance the village of Sipson.
Mr Slaughter, MP for Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush, said he had quit his unpaid post - the lowest rung of the government ladder - to "continue campaigning" against the plan.Mr Slaughter, MP for Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush, said he had quit his unpaid post - the lowest rung of the government ladder - to "continue campaigning" against the plan.
In a letter to his constituents explaining his decision, Mr Slaughter said he had opposed airport expansion for 20 years.In a letter to his constituents explaining his decision, Mr Slaughter said he had opposed airport expansion for 20 years.
"Ministers are insisting that stringent noise and pollution limits are met before the new runway can be used and that use of existing runways will not grow," he wrote."Ministers are insisting that stringent noise and pollution limits are met before the new runway can be used and that use of existing runways will not grow," he wrote.
"But Heathrow will seek a way to break these promises once again. Opposition from residents and green groups means that we can stop a third runway being built. I assure you that my fight against it will go on.""But Heathrow will seek a way to break these promises once again. Opposition from residents and green groups means that we can stop a third runway being built. I assure you that my fight against it will go on."
Vote angerVote anger
Ministers say a parliamentary vote on the new runway is not necessary, a stance which has angered many MPs and led to the expulsion of Labour's John McDonnell from the Commons earlier this month after he staged a protest. Ministers say a parliamentary vote on the new runway is not necessary, a stance which has angered many MPs.
But the Conservatives, who oppose the new runway, secured a debate as part of their opposition parliamentary time.But the Conservatives, who oppose the new runway, secured a debate as part of their opposition parliamentary time.
Although Wednesday's vote will not be binding on ministers, it would be embarrassing for the government to lose it.Although Wednesday's vote will not be binding on ministers, it would be embarrassing for the government to lose it.
Before the government gave the go-ahead for the new runway, more than 50 Labour backbenchers were among 132 MPs to sign a motion calling for the government to reject the idea.Before the government gave the go-ahead for the new runway, more than 50 Labour backbenchers were among 132 MPs to sign a motion calling for the government to reject the idea.
It is thought that several of these MPs will now support the government because of the concessions made and the backing for the project of cabinet ministers such as Ed Miliband and Hilary Benn previously thought to be sceptical.It is thought that several of these MPs will now support the government because of the concessions made and the backing for the project of cabinet ministers such as Ed Miliband and Hilary Benn previously thought to be sceptical.
It is also reported that a small number of Conservative MPs may rebel against their own leadership and back the government on the grounds of the economic benefits of the scheme.It is also reported that a small number of Conservative MPs may rebel against their own leadership and back the government on the grounds of the economic benefits of the scheme.
Although the Lib Dems oppose the runway, Ulster Unionist MPs are expected to support the government.Although the Lib Dems oppose the runway, Ulster Unionist MPs are expected to support the government.
The SNP have tabled an amendment to the Tory motion calling for high-speed rail lines to be built between London and Scotland and Wales.The SNP have tabled an amendment to the Tory motion calling for high-speed rail lines to be built between London and Scotland and Wales.
Employers and union leaders have thrown their weight behind a new runway, saying it will create thousands of jobs and ensure London remains a top business destination.Employers and union leaders have thrown their weight behind a new runway, saying it will create thousands of jobs and ensure London remains a top business destination.
But a coalition of local councillors and environmental campaigners have vowed to mount a legal challenge, a move supported by Mayor of London Boris Johnson.But a coalition of local councillors and environmental campaigners have vowed to mount a legal challenge, a move supported by Mayor of London Boris Johnson.