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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tories warn firms off runway plan | Tories warn firms off runway plan |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Tory leader David Cameron has warned firms not to invest in building a third runway at Heathrow, as his party will scrap the plan if it wins power. | Tory leader David Cameron has warned firms not to invest in building a third runway at Heathrow, as his party will scrap the plan if it wins power. |
| He told the Guardian: "What business needs to recognise is that the third runway is just not going to happen." | He told the Guardian: "What business needs to recognise is that the third runway is just not going to happen." |
| A third runway and sixth terminal were approved by ministers on Thursday but face legal challenges and protests. | A third runway and sixth terminal were approved by ministers on Thursday but face legal challenges and protests. |
| The government says the plans are right for the UK, will create 60,000 jobs and ensure the airport remains competitive. | The government says the plans are right for the UK, will create 60,000 jobs and ensure the airport remains competitive. |
| But Mr Cameron told the Guardian the new runway would never be built: "There is such a coalition of forces against it. There's such an environmental case against it." | But Mr Cameron told the Guardian the new runway would never be built: "There is such a coalition of forces against it. There's such an environmental case against it." |
| Cap on flights | Cap on flights |
| He also said he did not believe a Conservative government would have to pay compensation if they abandoned the scheme as there would be little time before the next election - which must take place at latest on 3 June 2010 - for airport operator BAA to have spent much on developing plans. | He also said he did not believe a Conservative government would have to pay compensation if they abandoned the scheme as there would be little time before the next election - which must take place at latest on 3 June 2010 - for airport operator BAA to have spent much on developing plans. |
| Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon announced on Thursday that the government was confident air and noise pollution targets could be met and would support the expansion of the west London airport. | Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon announced on Thursday that the government was confident air and noise pollution targets could be met and would support the expansion of the west London airport. |
| The government remains convinced therefore that additional capacity at Heathrow is critical to this country's long-term economic prosperity Geoff HoonTransport secretary | The government remains convinced therefore that additional capacity at Heathrow is critical to this country's long-term economic prosperity Geoff HoonTransport secretary |
| He outlined a series of measures aimed at reassuring critics, including an initial cap on the number of flights using the new runway, allowing only the cleanest planes to use the new slots and setting a new aircraft emissions reduction target. | He outlined a series of measures aimed at reassuring critics, including an initial cap on the number of flights using the new runway, allowing only the cleanest planes to use the new slots and setting a new aircraft emissions reduction target. |
| But the decision was greeted with fury by environmental campaigners, people living under the flight paths and those living in Sipson village, which will be demolished to make way for the new runway and terminal. | But the decision was greeted with fury by environmental campaigners, people living under the flight paths and those living in Sipson village, which will be demolished to make way for the new runway and terminal. |
| Local Labour MP John McDonnell was suspended from the Commons after he grabbed the ceremonial mace in protest at the government's refusal to grant MPs a vote on the matter. | Local Labour MP John McDonnell was suspended from the Commons after he grabbed the ceremonial mace in protest at the government's refusal to grant MPs a vote on the matter. |
| And as soon as the decision was announced, campaigners said they intended to launch legal challenges. Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who favours a new airport in the Thames Estuary, said he would support them. | And as soon as the decision was announced, campaigners said they intended to launch legal challenges. Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who favours a new airport in the Thames Estuary, said he would support them. |
| Greenpeace has already started trying to frustrate the process by buying up a section of land earmarked for the new development and selling it off in small pieces. | Greenpeace has already started trying to frustrate the process by buying up a section of land earmarked for the new development and selling it off in small pieces. |
| Some protesters smashed doors at the Department for Transport after the decision was made, while others said they would consider direct action to temporarily shut the airport down. | Some protesters smashed doors at the Department for Transport after the decision was made, while others said they would consider direct action to temporarily shut the airport down. |
| Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats oppose a third runway and favour high speed rail links to improve travel across the UK. | Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats oppose a third runway and favour high speed rail links to improve travel across the UK. |
| The government is setting up a company to look into the possibility of new high speed rail links, which could include a hub at Heathrow. | The government is setting up a company to look into the possibility of new high speed rail links, which could include a hub at Heathrow. |
| But Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon told MPs on Thursday it was "nonsense" to suggest it could be an alternative to a third runway as more airport capacity was needed. | But Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon told MPs on Thursday it was "nonsense" to suggest it could be an alternative to a third runway as more airport capacity was needed. |
| He said the airport supported more than 100,000 jobs and construction alone would create 60,000 jobs while not expanding would only benefit its European rivals. | He said the airport supported more than 100,000 jobs and construction alone would create 60,000 jobs while not expanding would only benefit its European rivals. |
| As the only hub airport, Heathrow connected the UK to "to key international destinations such as Mumbai and Beijing...the growth markets of the future". | As the only hub airport, Heathrow connected the UK to "to key international destinations such as Mumbai and Beijing...the growth markets of the future". |
| "The government remains convinced therefore that additional capacity at Heathrow is critical to this country's long-term economic prosperity." | "The government remains convinced therefore that additional capacity at Heathrow is critical to this country's long-term economic prosperity." |
| Businesses, the GMB and Unite unions, airport operator BAA and British Airways all welcomed the decision, saying it was needed for the airport to remain competitive. But other unions, including the RMT and PCS are opposed and favour high-speed rail. |