Cabinet has approved the expansion of Heathrow airport. But the decision is so bad even Boris Johnson has been allowed to duck the vote.
Cabinet ministers have approved the controversial expansion of London’s Heathrow airport into a third runway.
And the decision is nothing short of a disaster – here’s why.
1. Environmental scandal
It’s not only that noise pollution in the area surrounding Heathrow airport would increase – affecting over 700,000 people in the area. Air pollution in London would also worse as a result.
If Britain is to reach the target of CO2 emissions reduction – a cut of 80% of the 2005 levels by 2050 – then the government has to chose between building a new runway at Heathrow or restrict flights from other airports.
Can’t quite believe Chris Grayling’s statement on #Heathrow didn’t mention climate change even once. The biggest crisis this planet faces – aviation one of fastest growing sources of emissions- yet not one word. Government claims to be ‘green’ increasingly look like a bad joke.
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) 5 June 2018
Aviation currently accounts of 6% of Britain’s greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Taxpayer’s price
The new runway will cost an estimated £18 billionn to build, plus a further £15 billion on improving local access and other infrastructures surrounding the airport. All from the taxpayer’s pocket, of course.
Besides, the alleged financial benefits of the expansion – an estimated £70 billion by 2050 – could be well overestimated, as many of the runway’s users would probably be transit passengers.
Plus, there is the possibility that by the time the costs are repaid and the runway is making a profit, flying offers will have to be curbed in order to reduce carbon emissions.
3. Another Tory blunder
This morning’s announcement wasn’t short of controversy, but perhaps the most shocking event was how it clearly displayed the government’s double standards when it comes to their own MPs.
Boris Johnson, who has often spoken against the third runway, will be allowed to duck the vote, dodging an embarrassing moment in the Commons. Had he been whipped, like many other Tory MPs, Johnson would have had to face the choice of voting against his own government or going back on his promise to “lie down in front of those bulldozers” if expansion works go ahead.
Allowing the Foreign Secretary to shift such an important vote exposed the government’s difficulty and desperation at keeping a united front.
As Best of Britain spokeswoman Layla Moran said:
“The Prime Minister will again look the other way as Boris Johnson spouts off but do naff all about it because she is so desperate to keep the talisman of Brexit around the cabinet table.
“All Boris cares about now is the jets, Chevening, cars and ministerial red boxes. Boris has a new nickname – the bottler.”
In the face of Brexit chaos, Theresa May opted to give Johnson an easy way out. Lest he goes on to take revenge by supporting a leadership coup.
4. Unlikely to ever get built
Opposition to the third runway is still strong inside and outside of Westminster. And the expansion might never even take place.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, whose constituency Hayes and Harlington would house the site, tweeted earlier:
“So that my constituents are fully aware I remain implacably opposed to expansion at Heathrow and after listening to the transport minister, Chris Grayling, today I am even more convinced that this would be a costly, environmental and social disaster that will never be built.”
Very senior Labour source tells me #Heathrow will fail their four tests. In other words they will not back the Heathrow expansion. So yet another squeaky-bum vote for @theresa_may
— Robert Peston (@Peston) 5 June 2018
Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas, also sent out an appeal to her fellow anti-third runway MPs, saying:
“I’m calling on longstanding opponents like Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell, Boris Johnson and Greg Hands to join me in making the public case against this damaging plan in the coming weeks.
“If Boris Johnson does plan a trip abroad to miss the vote, as reported, then he will be guilty of unforgivable cowardice. History will not forgive those who failed to make a stand for what’s right at this most crucial of moments.”
But a new campaign might not even be necessary, if Transport Secretary Chris Grayling’s record is to be repeated. The minister was facing a barrage of criticism today, after failing to solve the Northern Rail crisis. Over 160 of the train-line’s daily services have been cut, hitting thousands of people’s commutes on the Nottingham to Northumberland and Cheshire to Carlisle routes.
Joana Ramiro is a reporter for Left Foot Forward. You can follow her on Twitter for all sorts of rants here.
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