George Osborne says Heathrow 3rd runway is an option – William Hague confirms no change of Heathrow policy
George Osborne – talking on the Andrew Marr Show – said he has not ruled out a third runway at Heathrow airport to help boost growth He said more airport capacity was needed in the South East of England and “all options” should be considered. He added that new measures to speed up the planning process and underwrite spending on big infrastructure projects would also be announced shortly. George Osborne wants the government to seek cross-party agreement on airport expansion plans. This week Downing Street confirmed that the coalition has no plans to reverse policy on Heathrow. Foreign Secretary William Hague, speaking to Sky News on Sunday, also ruled out a change of policy. “The circumstances have not changed… it’s important to stick to that election promise. It’s important to make the right decision about this and study all the options. “We said very specifically we would not be (building a third runway).”
2 September 2012 (BBC)
George Osborne says Heathrow third runway is an option
George Osborne said the government would seek cross-party agreement on airport expansion plans
George Osborne has not ruled out a third runway at Heathrow airport to help boost growth.
The chancellor told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show more airport capacity was needed in the South East of England and “all options” should be considered. He said new measures to speed up the planning process and underwrite spending on big infrastructure projects would also be announced shortly. Labour said tax breaks for businesses and a VAT cut were needed. On Tuesday, Downing Street dismissed an outspoken attack by senior Tory backbencher Tim Yeo who challenged Prime Minister David Cameron to show if he was “man or mouse” and defy his critics by reversing policy on Heathrow.
And Foreign Secretary William Hague, speaking to Sky News on Sunday, also ruled out a change of policy. “The circumstances have not changed… it’s important to stick to that election promise. It’s important to make the right decision about this and study all the options. “We said very specifically we would not be (building a third runway).
” ‘Fighting spirit’
But Mr Osborne told Andrew Marr extra runway capacity was needed in the South East of England and “then it is a question of where it should go – Heathrow, a new estuary airport, Stansted, Gatwick – people have lots of different options.
“What I would say is – let’s examine all the options, let’s do it now, let’s make sure we can create a political consensus.” He added: “I understand all about the local pressures but you have got, as a nation, to be able to overcome those and make a sensible decision about where that extra runway capacity in the south-east should be.”
A consultation on future air capacity in the South East of England has twice been delayed amid reported divisions within the coalition and Conservative ranks.
Chuka Umunna MP: “Major infrastructure investment projects are falling behind”
On Sunday, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson added her voice to those backing a third runway at Heathrow, arguing the move is in Scotland’s economic interests.
But the Lib Dems have rejected any expansion of the airport – which was explicitly ruled out in the manifestos of both coalition partners.
It comes as Mr Cameron has vowed to show “fighting spirit” as he prepares to announce a series of measures designed to promote economic growth. Writing in the Mail on Sunday, he said a key part of economic recovery was “building the houses our people need”.
Labour said it would “look closely” at any planning reforms but said more needed to be done to kickstart the faltering economy and boost jobs, including “genuinely bringing forward infrastructure projects”.
Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said Labour would give firms a National Insurance break “to take on extra workers” and reverse the government’s VAT increase “which would get money back into our economy”.
‘Radical agenda’
Mr Umunna also accused ministers of sending out mixed signals on planning, saying they had come up with a national policy framework for planning in March but “now they are going to throw all the chips up in the air”.
He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show the government needed to “make their minds up and stick to it”.
Mr Osborne insisted the government was not “tearing up” its national policy framework on planning, just introducing further measures to speed up the process when Parliament returns this week.
He said ministers would be encouraging local authorities to use existing powers enabling them to build on Green Belt land if an equivalent area of land elsewhere is brought into the Green Belt.
He warned that the country could not afford to wait years for new development at a time when the economy was struggling. “We have to do more and we have to do it faster,” he told Andrew Marr.
“They are difficult times for the British economy, difficult times for the world but our economy is healing, jobs are being created, it is taking time, but there is no easy route to a magical recovery.”
Influential Tory backbencher David Davis, who also backs a third runway at Heathrow, has meanwhile come up with his own plan to boost growth.
The former shadow home secretary told the Sunday Telegraph it was not about individual policy areas and called for a “radical pro-growth agenda”.
The Tory MP wants more tax cuts, school leavers to be encouraged to start their own businesses and more done to encourage banks to lend.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19455195
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2 September 2012 (BBC)
David Cameron prepares economic growth plan
David Cameron has vowed to show “fighting spirit” as he prepares to announce a series of measures designed to promote economic growth.
After being asked by one of his own MPs this week if he was a man or a mouse, the PM said he wanted to “cut through the dither” that held Britain back. Writing in the Mail on Sunday, he said a key part of economic recovery was “building the houses our people need”. Tory MP David Davis has criticised the PM’s plans and outlined his own policy.
The former shadow home secretary told the Sunday Telegraph it was not about individual policy areas and called for a “radical pro-growth agenda”. The influential Tory MP wants more tax cuts, school leavers to be encouraged to start their own businesses and more done to encourage banks to lend.
‘Paralysis‘
The government will outline details of housing and infrastructure projects to coincide with the return of MPs to Parliament after the summer break. Mr Cameron said the country should not stand for the “paralysis” that causes new housing developments to be held up by entrenched local opposition and lengthy planning inquiries.
“Frankly, I am frustrated by the hoops you have to jump through to get anything done – and I come back to Parliament more determined than ever to cut through the dither that holds this country back.” Mr Cameron said this government was being braver stating there would be “no more excuses for failure; no more soft exams and soft discipline.
“When the grades went down, a predictable cry went up: that we were hurting the prospects of these children. “What hurts them is dumbing down their education so that their potential is never reached and no one wants to employ them.” He added the government was “restoring vigour” in welfare by capping benefits. His article concluded: “At every turn we are taking the hard road over the easy path. “I’m confident we’re making progress. And I’m more ready than ever for the challenge ahead.”
Cabinet return
The article comes as the prime minister is preparing his first major cabinet reshuffle. BBC political correspondent Chris Mason says Mr Cameron is likely to ignore calls from some disgruntled Tory backbenchers to sack Chancellor George Osborne in his cabinet reshuffle.
Conservative party chairman Baroness Warsi has said she wants to keep her job, amid speculation that she may be replaced. The BBC understands that any changes are unlikely to affect Mr Osborne, Home Secretary Theresa May and Foreign Secretary William Hague. But former Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Laws is being tipped for a return to the cabinet.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19454322 … and there are a lot of comments, some interesting …