Heathrow expansion in doubt over Boris Johnson’s comments UK News

Heathrow airport expansion plans come into question following widespread opposition from the Prime Minister and London mayoral candidates.

Speaking at a Downing Street briefing yesterday (April 20), Boris Johnson said his views on the Heathrow expansion were “well known” and the issue was “the business of the company concerned “.

Mr Johnson has already expressed his opposition to a third runway at Heathrow, after saying he would “lie down in front of bulldozers and stop construction” when he was mayor of London.

But the prime minister said “that doesn’t mean I’m opposed to aviation” yesterday when asked if the government’s inclusion of aviation in emissions targets would prevent the expansion. of the airport.

The comments come just days after the four main candidates in the race to become mayor of London signaled their opposition to a third runway at Heathrow, adding further difficulty to the project.

Current mayor Sadiq Khan has said a third lead will be “disastrous” for the environment, while Shaun Bailey, Sian Berry and Luisa Porritt have all said they will oppose the project.

Questions have been raised about the future of Heathrow’s expansion this week following the government’s statement that aviation will be factored into legally binding targets to cut carbon emissions by 78% by 2035.

Paul McGuiness, Chairman of the No 3rd Runway Coalition, said: “The Heathrow expansion is dead. It just isn’t compatible with the UK government’s commitment to do our part in climate protection.”

“With aviation now having to live within carbon emission limits and the government’s position being that there can be no net expansion of UK aviation, the expansion of activity at one airport will have to be offset by restriction of activity in another. ”

He added: “I don’t think it’s likely that anyone, other than Heathrow’s foreign shareholders, is stupid enough to argue for relegating economic opportunities to the regions and dropping the program. leveling by the government. ”