Cameron urged to act over Heathrow expansion

Senior Conservative MP Tom Yeo has publicly appealed to David Cameron to abandon his opposition to a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Yeo stated that the UK trade with China and developing Asian nations is constrained by a lack of direct flights to the necessary business hubs. He claimed businesses are losing out to European competitors with better connections.

As Chairman of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, Yeo also initially opposed plans to expand Heathrow.

However, in yesterday’s Daily Telegraph he denounced the stance as outdated, and entreated the Prime Minister to join him in fighting for immediate development of the site.

He said that the cost of the project would be covered by the private sector, and that it will create much needed jobs. Yeo also believes that a new runway at Heathrow will make Britain the most business-friendly country in Europe, and that it will attract newer, quieter aircraft.

David Cameron acknowledged the problem in March, stating: “I’m not blind to the need to increase airport capacity, particularly in the South East. We are acting now to make the best use of existing capacity… but we need to maintain our status as a key global hub for air travel.”

However, Transport Minister, Justine Greening said on the Today programme: “The coalition agreement is very clear that we don’t support a third runway, and in fact there’s now a cross party consensus against a third runway”.

However, when Government reconvenes after the summer break, Greening will be leading talks about an alternative way to expand British hub capacity.

“The Prime Minister must ask himself whether he is man or mouse,“ says Yeo. “An immediate go-ahead for a third runway will symbolise the start of a new era, the moment the Cameron government found its sense of mission. Let’s go for it.”

Jane Evans