Jeremy Corbyn reported as saying we should “look at the under-used capacity” of other airports

During a visit to a pre-school in Crawley, Jeremy Corbyn was reported as implying a 2nd runway at Gatwick would be better than a 3rd runway at Heathrow. He is known to oppose a Heathrow runway, due to inadequate air pollution controls.  He is quoted as saying:  “Gatwick already has spare capacity at the moment and does have facility to expand beyond 2019…“Gatwick is a possibility but I also think we should look at the under-used capacity all around the South and the South East so there’s also a question of expanding flights in Stansted and even Southampton and further afield in Birmingham.” The recent briefing produced for the AEF states:  “The South East accounts for one third of the UK population but its airports handle nearly two-thirds of UK air travel.  The Airports Commission argues that a new runway would be good for everyone. But in fact its own modelling suggests that traffic at regional airports would fall on average if a new runway was built at either Heathrow or Gatwick compared to a ‘no new runways’ scenario.  Due to the limit of – at the maximum – 60% increase in air passengers, recommended by the Committee on Climate Change, it would make no sense to build a new runway if it simply redistributed traffic around the UK and increased congestion in the South East.”
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“Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn backs Gatwick expansion”

11 November 2015 (West Sussex County Times)

Jeremy Corbyn says a second runway at Gatwick is a better option than Heathrow expansion.

The Labour leader made the comments during a visit to Crawley today.

He opposed expansion at Heathrow over pollution concerns and said: “Gatwick already has spare capacity at the moment and does have facility to expand beyond 2019.

“Gatwick is a possibility but I also think we should look at the under-used capacity all around the South and the South East so there’s also a question of expanding flights in Stansted and even Southampton and further afield in Birmingham.”

During his visit to Caterpillar Pre-School he also spoke to parents about his opposition to Tory proposals to cut working tax credits.

http://www.wscountytimes.co.uk/news/business/business-news/labour-leader-jeremy-corbyn-backs-gatwick-expansion-1-7060782#ixzz3rHQQ2tCM

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This is exactly what GACC (Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign) is saying!   See

The Great British Runway Myth

Runway myth front

This states:

The north-south divide….

  •  The South East accounts for one third of the UK population but its airports handle nearly two-thirds of UK air travel.
  •  The Airports Commission argues that a new runway would be good
    for everyone. But in fact its own modelling suggests that traffic at regional airports would fall on average if a new runway was built
    at either Heathrow or Gatwick compared to a ‘no new runways’ scenario.
  •  The Committee on Climate Change (set up by Act of Parliament),
    recommends that UK aviation must operate within a fixed carbon emissions cap, requiring passenger growth to be limited to 60% over 1990 levels. If a new runway was allowed to use up most of the growth available under this carbon cap, traffic in every region of the UK would be lower than without expansion.
  •  It would make no sense to build a new runway if it simply redistributed traffic around the UK and increased congestion in the South East

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Earlier:

Corbyn said to be ready to oppose Heathrow runway, partly due to air pollution

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wants to make air pollution a key campaign issue over the next year which could have “significant implications” for expansion at Heathrow. Writing to senior Labour members, he warned that a 3rd Heathrow runway could worsen the government’s “dreadful record on air quality”. He said “more than 50,000 premature deaths a year” are estimated to be caused by air pollution, and this has been brought into sharp relief by the VW diesel deceit story. A party source said: “Jeremy is clear that he expects Labour to now oppose a third runway at Heathrow. It is now up to the Government to decide what to do.” The decision by Labour to officially come out against a third runway will be a major stumbling block for Heathrow expansion. Jeremy Corbyn campaigned against Heathrow expansion during the Labour leadership contest.  However, when the Airports Commission recommendation of a Heathrow runway was announced on 1st June, Labour’s then shadow Transport Secretary Michael Dugher suggested Labour would back this, as did Harriet Harman.

https://www.airportwatch.org.uk/2015/10/corbyn-said-to-be-ready-to-oppose-heathrow-runway-partly-due-to-air-pollution/

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Jeremy Corbyn’s election as Labour leader could scupper plans for Heathrow 3rd runway

The election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party could scupper plans for a 3rd Heathrow runway, as he has now declared his opposition to it.  The three other Labour contenders, Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall,  all support the plan to expand Heathrow.  Jeremy Corbyn appears most likely to win the leadership contest.  If the Conservative party needs to get a Heathrow runway approved in Parliament, he may need Labour to be behind it. When the Airports Commission issued their final report on 1st July, Labour supported a Heathrow runway and wanted a quick decision by the Government to get on with it.  But now Mr Corbyn said: “A third runway at Heathrow would mean 4,000 homes demolished and 10,000 people displaced. It would cause massive increases in noise and air pollution and inflict misery on hundreds of thousands of Londoners. UK air pollution is already above EU limits, and 30,000 people are dying every year because of it”. He wants better transport links to airports, betteru se of existing capacity, and more even spread to the regions. Of the London Mayoral candidates, Tessa Jowell, Gareth Thomas and David Lammy back Heathrow, and Sadiq Khan, Christian Wolmar and  Diane Abbott are against.

https://www.airportwatch.org.uk/2015/08/jeremy-corbyns-election-as-labour-leader-could-scupper-plans-for-heathrow-3rd-runway/

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Labour divided as 30 northern Labour MPs back Heathrow expansion, believing it would help their regions

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Nearly 30 northern Labour MPs have signed a letter backing a 3rd Heathrow.  The letter to Lillian Greenwood, shadow transport secretary, was signed by members of the PLP Northern Group. They include senior figures such as Chi Onwurah,  Kevan Jones, and Nick Brown. This may be an indication of  the Labour party’s divisions over the issue. Key to David Cameron’s calculations will be whether he can win enough backing in Parliament for Heathrow expansion, given that it is opposed by several of his senior colleagues including Zac Goldsmith, Boris Johnson and Justine Greening. Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell are against a Heathrow runway, but it is not clear if Mr Corbyn would order Labour’s 232 MPs to vote against it.  If as many as 26 Labour MPs from one region are in favour of the Heathrow runway it suggests that Mr Corbyn and Mr McDonnell’s views are not shared by all the rest of the party. The PLP Northern Group hope the regions would benefit from a Heathrow runway, and (like everyone else other than a few with the time and abilities to understand it all) have not read the Airports Commission’s papers in detail – showing negative implications for regional airports from a new runway.  A rather flimsy paper by “Quod”, setting out predictions of growth and jobs for the regions, is the basis of hopes by regional MPs.

https://www.airportwatch.org.uk/2015/11/labour-divided-as-30-northern-labour-mps-back-heathrow-expansion-believing-it-would-help-their-regions/

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