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| Heathrow third runway not right for UK, says Greening | Heathrow third runway not right for UK, says Greening |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Justine Greening has said the government remains opposed to a third runway at Heathrow, despite calls from Conservative MPs for a change of heart. | Justine Greening has said the government remains opposed to a third runway at Heathrow, despite calls from Conservative MPs for a change of heart. |
| The transport secretary said expanding Heathrow was "not right" for the UK and other options needed to be considered - including building a new hub airport. | The transport secretary said expanding Heathrow was "not right" for the UK and other options needed to be considered - including building a new hub airport. |
| Some ministers have reportedly urged a rethink amid strong business support. | Some ministers have reportedly urged a rethink amid strong business support. |
| And backbencher Tim Yeo said David Cameron must show whether he was a "man or a mouse" by backing the idea. | And backbencher Tim Yeo said David Cameron must show whether he was a "man or a mouse" by backing the idea. |
| The coalition agreement between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats rules out any expansion of Heathrow before the next election, while Labour also currently opposes the idea of a third runway at the UK's largest airport. | The coalition agreement between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats rules out any expansion of Heathrow before the next election, while Labour also currently opposes the idea of a third runway at the UK's largest airport. |
| But a consultation on future air capacity in south-east England has twice been delayed amid reported divisions within the coalition and Conservative ranks. | But a consultation on future air capacity in south-east England has twice been delayed amid reported divisions within the coalition and Conservative ranks. |
| 'Long-term solution' | 'Long-term solution' |
| Ms Greening, whose Putney constituency is on the Heathrow flight path and who personally campaigned against a third runway before becoming a minister, said the coalition agreement was "very clear" in its opposition to a new runway at Heathrow. | Ms Greening, whose Putney constituency is on the Heathrow flight path and who personally campaigned against a third runway before becoming a minister, said the coalition agreement was "very clear" in its opposition to a new runway at Heathrow. |
| "I don't think any of the facts have changed around a third runway," she told Radio 4's Today programme. "The facts remain as they were at the time of the election." | "I don't think any of the facts have changed around a third runway," she told Radio 4's Today programme. "The facts remain as they were at the time of the election." |
| She said concerns over increased noise, pollution and disruption to the surrounding area had not been addressed and suggested that a new runway would not be long enough to accommodate new, larger planes and would be full "within a few years". | She said concerns over increased noise, pollution and disruption to the surrounding area had not been addressed and suggested that a new runway would not be long enough to accommodate new, larger planes and would be full "within a few years". |
| "There is now a cross-party consensus that a third runway... is not the right thing for Britain," she said. | "There is now a cross-party consensus that a third runway... is not the right thing for Britain," she said. |
| "Make no mistake - a third, short runway will not be a long-term solution to our country's hub capacity question that we currently face. | "Make no mistake - a third, short runway will not be a long-term solution to our country's hub capacity question that we currently face. |
| "Britain deserves better and deserves a much longer-term aviation plan than it has had in the past." | "Britain deserves better and deserves a much longer-term aviation plan than it has had in the past." |
| The idea of a new airport - like one proposed by London Mayor Boris Johnson in the Thames Estuary - was "clearly one of the options", she added, as well as existing airports working more closely together. | The idea of a new airport - like one proposed by London Mayor Boris Johnson in the Thames Estuary - was "clearly one of the options", she added, as well as existing airports working more closely together. |
| Asked about her own position, Ms Greening said she would find it "difficult" to remain in government if it reversed its position on the issue, while insisting this was a "hypothetical" situation. | Asked about her own position, Ms Greening said she would find it "difficult" to remain in government if it reversed its position on the issue, while insisting this was a "hypothetical" situation. |
| In March, reports suggested Chancellor George Osborne was pushing for the runway idea to be reconsidered. | In March, reports suggested Chancellor George Osborne was pushing for the runway idea to be reconsidered. |
| 'Dignified slide' | 'Dignified slide' |
| Since then, a number of Tory MPs have warned that the UK is being left behind in aviation, saying a new runway is needed to boost trade and competitiveness. | Since then, a number of Tory MPs have warned that the UK is being left behind in aviation, saying a new runway is needed to boost trade and competitiveness. |
| Housing Minister Grant Shapps, tipped for promotion in a reshuffle, said on Friday that "all the options need to be considered while being mindful of our election manifesto". | Housing Minister Grant Shapps, tipped for promotion in a reshuffle, said on Friday that "all the options need to be considered while being mindful of our election manifesto". |
| And Mr Yeo, chairman of the Commons energy and climate change committee, said his long-held "environmental objections" to Heathrow expansion were "disappearing". | And Mr Yeo, chairman of the Commons energy and climate change committee, said his long-held "environmental objections" to Heathrow expansion were "disappearing". |
| He told the Daily Telegraph that European Union carbon emissions caps would force airlines to use more environmentally friendly planes if they wanted to use new capacity at Heathrow. | He told the Daily Telegraph that European Union carbon emissions caps would force airlines to use more environmentally friendly planes if they wanted to use new capacity at Heathrow. |
| And he added: "The prime minister must ask himself whether he is man or mouse. | And he added: "The prime minister must ask himself whether he is man or mouse. |
| "Does he want to be another Harold Macmillan, presiding over a dignified slide towards insignificance? | "Does he want to be another Harold Macmillan, presiding over a dignified slide towards insignificance? |
| "Or is there somewhere inside his heart - an organ that still remains impenetrable to most Britons - a trace of Thatcher, determined to reverse the direction of our ship? Let's go for it." | "Or is there somewhere inside his heart - an organ that still remains impenetrable to most Britons - a trace of Thatcher, determined to reverse the direction of our ship? Let's go for it." |
| He later told BBC Radio 4's The World at One that circumstances had changed since the coalition agreement and the prime minister faced a "moment of opportunity" to alter the government's position. | He later told BBC Radio 4's The World at One that circumstances had changed since the coalition agreement and the prime minister faced a "moment of opportunity" to alter the government's position. |
| "It's a mark of mature and effective leadership for a government to be able to say 'look we made a commitment then. We now realise the situation has evolved in a pretty unhelpful way economically so we're going to take a different decision'," he said. | "It's a mark of mature and effective leadership for a government to be able to say 'look we made a commitment then. We now realise the situation has evolved in a pretty unhelpful way economically so we're going to take a different decision'," he said. |
| 'Totemic issue' | 'Totemic issue' |
| The coalition government scrapped Labour's plans for a third runway when it came to power, following widespread opposition from councils, residents and green groups. | The coalition government scrapped Labour's plans for a third runway when it came to power, following widespread opposition from councils, residents and green groups. |
| Both Downing Street and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg insisted on Tuesday that the government would stick to its pledge not to build a third runway. | |
| The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the business community saw the future of Heathrow as a "totemic" issue regarding the government's ability to take long-term economic decisions. | The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the business community saw the future of Heathrow as a "totemic" issue regarding the government's ability to take long-term economic decisions. |
| But he said the prime minister would think long and hard before countenancing any change, mindful of his party's election promise and the damage that the U-turn over tuition fees did to the Lib Dems. | But he said the prime minister would think long and hard before countenancing any change, mindful of his party's election promise and the damage that the U-turn over tuition fees did to the Lib Dems. |
| As the debate over expansion intensifies, Boris Johnson said it would be "totally wrong" for a new runway to be built at Heathrow. | As the debate over expansion intensifies, Boris Johnson said it would be "totally wrong" for a new runway to be built at Heathrow. |
| "I don't think Heathrow represents the answer and I think the prime minister understands that." | "I don't think Heathrow represents the answer and I think the prime minister understands that." |
| The consultation must begin as soon as possible, he added, as the issue had to be resolved. "There has to be a certain tempo and there has to be a result." | The consultation must begin as soon as possible, he added, as the issue had to be resolved. "There has to be a certain tempo and there has to be a result." |
| 'Sensible alternative' | |
| Labour also urged the government to move forward with the consultation. | |
| "Political parties should work together to develop a sensible and sustainable alternative to the rejected Heathrow third runway and the unworkable fantasy Thames Estuary proposals," the party said. | |
| Friends of the Earth said it welcomed the government's continued opposition to a third runway, but added there was no need for further airport expansion in the south east of any kind. | Friends of the Earth said it welcomed the government's continued opposition to a third runway, but added there was no need for further airport expansion in the south east of any kind. |
| "Ministers should prioritise better public transport and encourage people to use trains instead of environment-wrecking short-haul flights," the group said. | "Ministers should prioritise better public transport and encourage people to use trains instead of environment-wrecking short-haul flights," the group said. |