Ed Balls and Mary Creagh, at Labour conference, both say there needs to be a quick decision on runway capacity

At the Labour conference, Shadow Sec of State for Transport, Mary Creagh said, on aviation:  “More airport capacity is vital to Britain’s economic success, but David Cameron was too weak to deliver it. So he kicked it into the long grass. That led to Boris Johnson’s fantasy island airport …. The one that would have closed Heathrow, destroyed jobs and put London at risk of flooding. £5 million of public money wasted on his vanity project, but it was never about the country’s future. …. The next Labour Government will make a swift decision on airport expansion in the national interest.”  In his speech, Ed Balls, the Shadow Chancellor said there should be no more “dither and delay” on airport capacity, amid signals that Labour is no longer ruling out expansion at Heathrow. He said there must be a rapid and final decision on this after the next election. “Whatever the outcome of the Howard Davies review into airport capacity, we must resolve to finally make a decision on airport capacity in London and the South-East — expanding capacity while taking into account the environmental impact ….No more kicking into the long-grass, but taking the right decisions for Britain’s long-term future.”
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Labour Party conference: Ed Balls offers stronger support for London airport expansion

POLITICAL EDITOR (Independent)

Labour has softened its opposition to expansion at Heathrow Airport despite Ed Miliband’s previous hostility to the building of a third runway there.

Ed Balls, the shadow Chancellor, told the party’s conference that an incoming Labour Government would not allow any more “dither and delay” over the need to boost airport capacity in the south east. Labour sources suggested that the party was now open-minded about whether Heathrow or Gatwick should be expanded, which would be a significant shift in policy.

If it wins power next May, Labour would have to make a big decision on the review led by Sir Howard Davies, chairman of the Airports Commission, which has ruled out the London Mayor Boris Johnson’s plans for a new airport in the Thames Estuary and will issue its final report after the election.

Mr Balls moved Labour closer to saying it would accept the Commission’s verdict. If it backs Heathrow, Mr Miliband would be under strong pressure to make a U-turn. He also opposed a third runway at Heathrow during his successful Labour leadership campaign in 2010.

The shadow Chancellor, who is thought to be keener on Heathrow expansion than Mr Miliband, did not express any preference in his speech between Heathrow and Gatwick.

But he said that Labour would set up a National Infrastructure Commission to “end dither and delay” on decisions on major projects. “Whatever the outcome of the Howard Davies review into airport capacity, we must resolve to finally make a decision on airport capacity in London and the south east – expanding capacity while taking into account the environmental impact,” he said. “No more kicking into the long grass, but taking the right decisions for Britain’s long-term future.”

Mr Balls’ message was seen as part of a drive by Labour to become more “business-friendly” amid criticism that the party has alienated business groups.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-party-conference-ed-balls-offers-stronger-support-for-london-airport-expansion-9749300.html

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The Standard says of his speech:

Ed Balls pledged no more “dither and delay” on the airports crisis today amid signals that Labour is no longer ruling out expansion at Heathrow.

In his keynote speech, the Shadow Chancellor declared that there must be a rapid and final decision after the next election on the site for new runways.

“Whatever the outcome of the Howard Davies review into airport capacity, we must resolve to finally make a decision on airport capacity in London and the South-East — expanding capacity while taking into account the environmental impact,” he told the Labour conference. “No more kicking into the long-grass, but taking the right decisions for Britain’s long-term future.”

Mr Balls is known to be warmer than party leader Ed Miliband towards a third runway at Heathrow. But he was careful not to express any preference in his speech between the frontrunners for expansion, Heathrow and Gatwick, and did not commit to accept whatever is recommended by Sir Howard Davies, the Airports Commission chairman.

Separately, party sources are making clear that Labour is “equidistant” between the two airports, which have produced rival plans for extra runway capacity. Estimates of pollution that each would produce would be given great weight in any final decision.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/labour-conference-ed-balls-promises-no-more-dither-and-delay-over-heathrow-airport-expansion-9748432.html

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Speech by Mary Creagh MP to Labour Party Conference 2014 in Manchester

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23.9.2014

Mary Creagh MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, in a speech to Labour’s Conference 2014 in Manchester, said:

 

[…. just the extracts relating to aviation ……]

Today I will set out how Ed Miliband’s Labour government will deliver the big change we need in transport.

Big change to deliver our national infrastructure.

……..

This government has neglected our national infrastructure.

More airport capacity is vital to Britain’s economic success, but David Cameron was too weak to deliver it. So he kicked it into the long grass.

That led to Boris Johnson’s fantasy island airport.

Do you remember?

The one that would have closed Heathrow, destroyed jobs and put London at risk of flooding.

Five million pounds of public money wasted on his vanity project, but it was never about the country’s future.

It was all about the future of the new Tory candidate for Uxbridge.

The next Labour Government will make a swift decision on airport expansion in the national interest.

Labour supports High Speed Two which will transform our country.

……..

Ministers talk about rail services in the North.

Those same ministers are proposing to cut direct rail services from Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Dewsbury to Manchester.

Friends, we need big change to the way we run the railway.

A Labour government will deliver the biggest reform of the railways since privatisation to deliver a better deal for taxpayers and passengers.

……

Opposition has sharpened not dulled our ambition.

Only a Labour government will make the big change we need to deliver the infrastructure to support British jobs and growth

……..

http://press.labour.org.uk/post/98217374544/speech-by-mary-creagh-mp-to-labour-party-conference