David Cameron today dropped the strongest hint yet that a future Conservative government would not lend its support to a third runway at Heathrow airport. Addressing a "Cameron Direct" town hall meeting in Brentford, Cameron remarked "I haven't heard any persuasive arguments for Heathrow expansion". The statement is the strongest indication yet that the Tory leader is unconvinced by the economic and environmental justifications used by the aviation industry and the Labour government.
On Thursday the transport secretary Ruth Kelly announced that an imminent decision on the expansion of the third runway was to be postponed until the end of the year, despite repeated government assurances that the announcement would be made this month. The area's MP, Ann Keen (a parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Health) recently broke ranks with the government and announced her opposition to further expansion at Heathrow. Ann Keen's Commons majority is just over 4,000 votes. Cameron's move highlights the threat of a 'Heathrow swing' in a number of marginal West London constituencies.
Commenting on the news, Robin Oakley, the head of the climate change campaign at Greenpeace UK said:
"David Cameron's words are a body blow to the government's case for a third runway at Heathrow. The fact that the Conservatives are not convinced by the economic and environmental arguments being put forward completely undermines the aviation industry's position and casts serious doubt on the future of this project. Just this week Ruth Kelly announced that her decision on Heathrow has been put back until the end of the year, and as each day goes past this proposal looks increasingly shaky."
For more information call the Greenpeace press office on 0207 865 8255.
