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Lib Dems could change position on airport expansion Lib Dems could change position on airport expansion
(about 5 hours later)
The Liberal Democrats are heading for a possible U-turn over their opposition to airport expansion.The Liberal Democrats are heading for a possible U-turn over their opposition to airport expansion.
The party has been committed to a blanket ban on the construction of any new runways in south-east England.The party has been committed to a blanket ban on the construction of any new runways in south-east England.
But two Lib Dem MPs at the party's conference in Glasgow have tabled an amendment that would allow Gatwick Airport to be exempted.But two Lib Dem MPs at the party's conference in Glasgow have tabled an amendment that would allow Gatwick Airport to be exempted.
The party leadership backs that plan - putting them on a collision course with many party members who support the ban.The party leadership backs that plan - putting them on a collision course with many party members who support the ban.
The issue will be debated on the conference floor on Tuesday.The issue will be debated on the conference floor on Tuesday.
Sources close to Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg are suggesting that airport expansion could take place without increasing carbon emissions due to technological advances.Sources close to Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg are suggesting that airport expansion could take place without increasing carbon emissions due to technological advances.
Choosing a husband
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said dropping opposition to any new runways at Gatwick, Heathrow or Stansted could make any future coalition talks easier.BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said dropping opposition to any new runways at Gatwick, Heathrow or Stansted could make any future coalition talks easier.
The airport expansion amendment has been tabled by Solihull MP Lorely Burt and Stephen Gilbert, who represents St Austell and Newquay.The airport expansion amendment has been tabled by Solihull MP Lorely Burt and Stephen Gilbert, who represents St Austell and Newquay.
There is no guarantee that it will be adopted as party policy and it is likely to face fierce resistance, with high profile figures including former London mayoral candidate Lord Paddick expected to speak against it.There is no guarantee that it will be adopted as party policy and it is likely to face fierce resistance, with high profile figures including former London mayoral candidate Lord Paddick expected to speak against it.
'See sense''See sense'
Business Secretary Vince Cable has said expansion at Gatwick was "a preferable alternative" and "less problematic" than expansion at Heathrow, which is near to his Twickenham constituency.Business Secretary Vince Cable has said expansion at Gatwick was "a preferable alternative" and "less problematic" than expansion at Heathrow, which is near to his Twickenham constituency.
But Peter Chivall, of the Green Liberal Democrats group, urged the party leadership to "see sense".But Peter Chivall, of the Green Liberal Democrats group, urged the party leadership to "see sense".
"We will be giving away thousands of votes in the South East and elsewhere if we approve amendments like this and showing, in effect, we're just a patsy for big interests," he told BBC News."We will be giving away thousands of votes in the South East and elsewhere if we approve amendments like this and showing, in effect, we're just a patsy for big interests," he told BBC News.
"We know that the only way you can restrict aviation and restrict the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by planes is to restrict the number of runways. And that's the way we have to go.""We know that the only way you can restrict aviation and restrict the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by planes is to restrict the number of runways. And that's the way we have to go."
So far, former minister Jeremy Browne is the only senior figure in the party - apart from Mr Cable - to throw his weight behind an extra runway.So far, former minister Jeremy Browne is the only senior figure in the party - apart from Mr Cable - to throw his weight behind an extra runway.
"For an internationalist party like the Liberal Democrats to consciously cut us off from the rest of the world would be a big mistake. So I'm with the runway option," he told BBC Two's Daily Politics."For an internationalist party like the Liberal Democrats to consciously cut us off from the rest of the world would be a big mistake. So I'm with the runway option," he told BBC Two's Daily Politics.
Lib Dem Transport Minister Baroness Kramer said the government must be prepared to defy the recommendation of Sir Howard Davies' Airports Commission, which is due to report after the general election.Lib Dem Transport Minister Baroness Kramer said the government must be prepared to defy the recommendation of Sir Howard Davies' Airports Commission, which is due to report after the general election.
"Any government that says 'we will automatically do what Davies recommends' is abdicating the responsibility they were elected to exercise," she told a fringe meeting."Any government that says 'we will automatically do what Davies recommends' is abdicating the responsibility they were elected to exercise," she told a fringe meeting.
Sir Howard's three shortlisted options include adding a third runway at Heathrow, lengthening an existing runway at Heathrow, and a new runway at Gatwick.Sir Howard's three shortlisted options include adding a third runway at Heathrow, lengthening an existing runway at Heathrow, and a new runway at Gatwick.