McDonnell suggests Labour will oppose Heathrow expansion
Many of the party's MPs have supported expansion in the past
Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell has suggested Labour will cancel Heathrow expansion if it wins the next election.
McDonnell told Andrew Marr that Heathrow expansion does not meet the party’s criteria for expansion.
This appears to be a shift, at least in emphasis, from Labour’s 2017 manifesto.
That manifesto said: “Labour recognises the need for additional airport capacity in the South East…we will guarantee that any airport expansion adheres to our tests that require noise issues to be addressed, air quality to be protected, the UK’s climate change obligations met and growth across the country supported.”
John McDonnell, who represents a constituency near the airport, has been a long-term campaigner against Heathrow expansion.
However, in a June 2018 parliamentary vote on Heathrow expansion, the Labour Party leadership allowed its MPs to vote how they want without consequences (a ‘free vote’).
Corbyn, McDonnell and 94 other Labour MPs voted against Heathrow expansion but 119 Labour MPs voted for it.
Many Labour MPs, along with the Scottish National Party, abstained while the Greens, Plaid Cymru and Lib Dems opposed it.
At the time, Left Foot Forward hosted a debate on the issue – with Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick (who is leaving parliament) supporting the expansion and Green peer Jenny Jones opposing it.
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