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Cameron rules out Thames airport Thames airport not in Tory plans
(about 5 hours later)
Conservative leader David Cameron has effectively ruled out building a new airport in the Thames Estuary. Conservative leader David Cameron has said building an airport in the Thames Estuary is not among his party's plans.
Mr Cameron said if elected to government in this year's general election it would not be the policy to construct the four-runway airport.Mr Cameron said if elected to government in this year's general election it would not be the policy to construct the four-runway airport.
The plan by London mayor Boris Johnson has been met with strong opposition.The plan by London mayor Boris Johnson has been met with strong opposition.
He recently told senior colleagues that building an airport in the Thames Estuary could be "the single biggest... and bravest project we do".He recently told senior colleagues that building an airport in the Thames Estuary could be "the single biggest... and bravest project we do".
Boris is a great mayor of London doing an excellent job, but building airports is not his responsibility David Cameron, Conservative Party leaderBoris is a great mayor of London doing an excellent job, but building airports is not his responsibility David Cameron, Conservative Party leader
But speaking to BBC South East Today, Mr Cameron said: "It's not our policy.But speaking to BBC South East Today, Mr Cameron said: "It's not our policy.
"I mean we don't want to see the third runway at Heathrow and we can stop that from happening."I mean we don't want to see the third runway at Heathrow and we can stop that from happening.
"We want to see instead high-speed rail and a proper rail hub at Heathrow, so that all those flights... that serve places that could be met by rail, all of those will be met by rail. That's our policy.""We want to see instead high-speed rail and a proper rail hub at Heathrow, so that all those flights... that serve places that could be met by rail, all of those will be met by rail. That's our policy."
He added: "Boris is a great mayor of London doing an excellent job, but building airports is not his responsibility."He added: "Boris is a great mayor of London doing an excellent job, but building airports is not his responsibility."
Last year, the proposal was described by the government as "irresponsible and disastrous".Last year, the proposal was described by the government as "irresponsible and disastrous".
But in a statement on Friday, Mr Johnson's office said it was sure the airport would not be out of the question.But in a statement on Friday, Mr Johnson's office said it was sure the airport would not be out of the question.
'Nail in coffin''Nail in coffin'
Mr Johnson's plans for an airport on an artificial island in the Thames estuary have been condemned by Kent County Council (KCC), Medway Council, local business leaders and conservationists.Mr Johnson's plans for an airport on an artificial island in the Thames estuary have been condemned by Kent County Council (KCC), Medway Council, local business leaders and conservationists.
Paul Carter, KCC leader, said he was "absolutely delighted" following Mr Cameron's comments.Paul Carter, KCC leader, said he was "absolutely delighted" following Mr Cameron's comments.
"We've always promoted Manston airport as an opportunity to develop a really good regional hub airport."We've always promoted Manston airport as an opportunity to develop a really good regional hub airport.
"I hope that we can get real traction on that because it will bring economic prosperity to east Kent," he said."I hope that we can get real traction on that because it will bring economic prosperity to east Kent," he said.
Campaigner George Crozer described it as "another nail in Boris's coffin".Campaigner George Crozer described it as "another nail in Boris's coffin".
"I don't think that we ever thought that Boris Island was part of Tory policy anyway, so it's really great to hear that," he said."I don't think that we ever thought that Boris Island was part of Tory policy anyway, so it's really great to hear that," he said.
The opposition Liberal Democrats on the Greater London Authority have now called for the mayor to back down on the idea.The opposition Liberal Democrats on the Greater London Authority have now called for the mayor to back down on the idea.
Councillor Caroline Pidgeon said the only thing he had succeeded in doing was to "unite councils in Kent and Essex, environmental groups, and now we hear all three main political parties in Parliament against this mad idea".Councillor Caroline Pidgeon said the only thing he had succeeded in doing was to "unite councils in Kent and Essex, environmental groups, and now we hear all three main political parties in Parliament against this mad idea".