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MP quits government over Heathrow Tories blast Heathrow runway plan
(about 2 hours later)
A Labour MP has quit his government post in protest at its backing for a new runway at Heathrow Airport. Building a new runway at Heathrow would have an "unacceptable" impact on local communities and the environment, the Conservatives have said.
Andrew Slaughter has stepped down as parliamentary private secretary to Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown to campaign against the scheme. Opening a Commons debate on the plans to expand Heathrow, shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers called for a "better not bigger" airport.
His decision comes as MPs are set to debate the controversial £9bn project. Earlier, a Labour MP quit his government post in protest at the plan.
Despite an anticipated rebellion by up to 40 Labour MPs, ministers are expected to win a vote after making a number of concessions over the runway. Andrew Slaughter stepped down as an aide to Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown to campaign against it.
'Carry on fighting' MPs are debating the controversial £9bn project on Wednesday and despite an anticipated rebellion by up to 40 Labour MPs, ministers are expected to win a vote after making a number of concessions over the runway.
'Unconvincing'
Labour rebel Paul Flynn claims government whips are piling pressure on the party's MPs and are even flying some of them back from Strasbourg, where they have been attending a Council of Europe plenary session, to vote for a third runway.Labour rebel Paul Flynn claims government whips are piling pressure on the party's MPs and are even flying some of them back from Strasbourg, where they have been attending a Council of Europe plenary session, to vote for a third runway.
Mr Flynn - who accuses the government of offering "flights for votes" - said those Labour MPs like himself who were returning from Strasbourg to vote against the government would not get their travel costs reimbursed as a "disincentive".Mr Flynn - who accuses the government of offering "flights for votes" - said those Labour MPs like himself who were returning from Strasbourg to vote against the government would not get their travel costs reimbursed as a "disincentive".
When it gave the go-ahead for the runway - which could be built by 2019 - earlier this month, the government said it would impose tight conditions on further expansion to limit its environmental impact. Explaining the Conservatives' opposition to the runway, Ms Villiers said the expansion would lead to an unacceptable increase in air and noise pollution while proposed environmental safeguards did not "stand up to scrutiny".
There will be a cap on the number of flights allowed to use the new runway and slots will only be given to airlines with the newest, least polluting aircraft. She said it was no longer possible to "stuff thousands more flights and millions more passengers into an overcrowded corner" of the country and said the economic arguments for expansion were "wholly unconvincing".
However, opponents say this will do little to mitigate the effect on the quality of life of local residents and London in general from the substantial increase in the number of flights. The Tories had a "credible" plan to make Heathrow better, she added, with the construction of "viable" new high-speed rail links relieving overcrowding at the airport.
The development would result in the demolition of 750 homes and the disappearance of one entire village, Sipson. Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon said the Conservatives had failed to spell out what criteria they would use to judge acceptable limits for air and noise quality and that their arguments could not be "taken seriously".
"The Tory party cannot say it rejects expansion without describing the basis on which the decision is taken," he said.
Opposition from residents and green groups means that we can stop a third runway being built Andrew SlaughterOpposition from residents and green groups means that we can stop a third runway being built Andrew Slaughter
When it gave the go-ahead for the runway - which could be built by 2019 - earlier this month, the government said it would impose tight conditions on further expansion to limit its environmental impact.
There will be a cap on the number of flights initially allowed to use the new runway and slots will only be given to airlines with the newest, least polluting aircraft.
The development would result in the demolition of 750 homes and the disappearance the village of Sipson.
Mr Slaughter, MP for Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush, said he had quit his unpaid post - the lowest rung of the government ladder - to "continue campaigning" against the plan.Mr Slaughter, MP for Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush, said he had quit his unpaid post - the lowest rung of the government ladder - to "continue campaigning" against the plan.
In a letter to his constituents explaining his decision, Mr Slaughter said he had opposed airport expansion for 20 years.In a letter to his constituents explaining his decision, Mr Slaughter said he had opposed airport expansion for 20 years.
"Ministers are insisting that stringent noise and pollution limits are met before the new runway can be used and that use of existing runways will not grow," he wrote."Ministers are insisting that stringent noise and pollution limits are met before the new runway can be used and that use of existing runways will not grow," he wrote.
"But Heathrow will seek a way to break these promises once again. Opposition from residents and green groups means that we can stop a third runway being built. I assure you that my fight against it will go on.""But Heathrow will seek a way to break these promises once again. Opposition from residents and green groups means that we can stop a third runway being built. I assure you that my fight against it will go on."
Vote angerVote anger
Ministers say a parliamentary vote on the new runway is not necessary, a stance which has angered many MPs and led to the expulsion of Labour's John McDonnell from the Commons earlier this month after he staged a protest.Ministers say a parliamentary vote on the new runway is not necessary, a stance which has angered many MPs and led to the expulsion of Labour's John McDonnell from the Commons earlier this month after he staged a protest.
But the Conservatives, which oppose the new runway, secured a debate as part of their opposition parliamentary time. But the Conservatives, who oppose the new runway, secured a debate as part of their opposition parliamentary time.
Although Wednesday's vote will not be binding on ministers, it would be embarrassing for the government to lose it and expose unwelcome divisions at a time when it is trying to focus on fighting the recession. Although Wednesday's vote will not be binding on ministers, it would be embarrassing for the government to lose it.
Before the government gave the go-ahead, more than 50 Labour backbenchers were among 132 MPs to sign a motion calling for the government to reject the idea. Before the government gave the go-ahead for the new runway, more than 50 Labour backbenchers were among 132 MPs to sign a motion calling for the government to reject the idea.
However, it is thought that several of these MPs will now support the government because of the concessions made and the backing for the project of Cabinet ministers such as Ed Miliband and Hilary Benn previously thought to be sceptical. It is thought that several of these MPs will now support the government because of the concessions made and the backing for the project of cabinet ministers such as Ed Miliband and Hilary Benn previously thought to be sceptical.
It is also reported that a small number of Conservative MPs may rebel against their own leadership and back the government on the grounds of the economic benefits of the scheme.It is also reported that a small number of Conservative MPs may rebel against their own leadership and back the government on the grounds of the economic benefits of the scheme.
Although the Lib Dems oppose the runway, Ulster Unionist MPs are expected to support the government.Although the Lib Dems oppose the runway, Ulster Unionist MPs are expected to support the government.
The SNP have tabled an amendment to the Tory motion calling for high-speed rail lines to be built between London and Scotland and Wales.The SNP have tabled an amendment to the Tory motion calling for high-speed rail lines to be built between London and Scotland and Wales.
Employers and union leaders have thrown their weight behind a new runway, saying it will create thousands of jobs and ensure London remains a front-rank business destination. Employers and union leaders have thrown their weight behind a new runway, saying it will create thousands of jobs and ensure London remains a top business destination.
But a coalition of local councillors and environmental campaigners have vowed to mount a legal challenge, a move supported by Mayor of London Boris Johnson.But a coalition of local councillors and environmental campaigners have vowed to mount a legal challenge, a move supported by Mayor of London Boris Johnson.