News December 2008
Time to give up on runway three – John McDonnell
existence in Britain of a corporate political complex. The interests of big corporations
have so permeated government that its major decisions are indistinguishable from
the boardroom demands of the leading companies. Even in the face of an immensely
broad coalition of opposition to Heathrow expansion, parliament is to be denied
a vote on the issue. (Guardian comment)
Labour faces backbench revolts against Heathrow 3rd runway and privatised post
year, predicting it will lose a Commons vote and suffer party resignations if
it does not back down on proposals to part-privatise the Post Office and build
a third runway at Heathrow. Labour MPs told the Guardian they were prepared to
vote against the government even if it meant sacrificing the partial recovery
Labour has been enjoying against the Conservatives. (Guardian)
Labour MPs plan Heathrow revolt
cross-party revolt in the new year in a final effort to halt the project. Plans
are being formed to force a vote in parliament, against Gordon Brown’s wishes,
in which dozens of Labour rebels would join the Tories and Lib Dems to oppose
the plan. A Commons defeat for Brown would send a clear message that expansion
was being pushed through, despite huge public opposition. (Observer).
Protesters in plot to shut down Heathrow terminal for a day
Terminal 1 by invading the check-in area. The sit-in, organised through Climate
Rush by internet and activist networks, is timed to put pressure on the Government
ahead of an imminent decision on whether to allow a 3rd runway at Heathrow. Hundreds
will host a picnic on the floor of T1. If enough people turn up, it is likely
to lead to the cancellation of flights. (Evening Standard).
Labour MPs urge third runway vote – EDM 339
vote. In total 97 MPs have signed Early Day Motion 339 from Labour MP Martin Salter
asking the government not to proceed with the controversial plans. Ministers are
due to decide on the new runway in January but the cabinet is split on the issue.
Heathrow 3rd runway would ‘drive coach and horses’ through mayor’s green plans
a coach and horses” through his plans to reduce London’s carbon emissions by 60%
by 2025. The mayor used a question-and-answer session with the London assembly
on his draft budget to urge members to join him in opposing the airport expansion.
He has been criticised for the lack of targets for reducing C02 emissions for
the functional bodies under his control. (Guardian).
BAA told to sell three airports
and Edinburgh airports. The watchdog says the decision is subject to a final consultation
but is necessary to improve levels of service at UK airports. “Under separate
ownership, the airport operators including BAA, will have a much greater incentive
to be far more responsive to their customers, both airlines and passengers,” the
Competition Commission said. (BBC).
Mandelson throws his weight behind third Heathrow runway
business case for a 3rd runway. Downing St also admitted that Heathrow expansion
had been discussed "numerous" times by Cabinet, highlighting how controversial
an issue it had become for them. Just 24 hours after Hilary Benn warned that EU
pollution laws must not be breached by a 3rd runway, Business Secretary Mandelson
is fighting the case for a bigger Heathrow. (Standard)
Going nowhere at Heathrow – Caroline Lucas on Guardian Comment
with the government’s airport policy and its climate impact. The government has
no action plan on achieving targets under the EU Air Quality Directive. The Stansted
protest demonstrated, more clearly than any strongly-worded letter, the level
of frustration and anger at the proposals to expand aviation and the government’s
shirking of its environmental responsibilities.
Willie Walsh says “Be realistic about Heathrow expansion”
“Let’s face reality. Rejecting growth at Heathrow would not make the slightest
practical difference to the future of the planet.” And “We must see things in
perspective. If we closed every UK airport tomorrow, we would reduce global C02
emissions by 0.1%. And if we decide not to build a third runway at Heathrow, we
will not reduce absolute emissions one iota.”
Heathrow Airport’s former chief executive lied to get Terminal Five
to get a third runway, it has been revealed. John Stewart, chairman of anti-expansion
group HACAN hs sourced letters and interviews in which BAA’s previous chief executive
lied to get a 3rd runway. Sir John Egan has been quoted as saying in a letter
to residents towards the start of the Terminal 5 Inquiry in 1995: "T5 does not
call for a 3rd runway." (This is Local London)
Cabinet split over proposed Heathrow third runway
Heathrow’s controversial expansion plans should be rejected unless noise and air
pollution are dramatically cut. He said Heathrow has a "problem" with air quality
even before the construction of the proposed 3rd runway, new technology was not
likely to solve the noise or air pollution problems – and failure to cut emissions
was "not something that we can contemplate". (Sunday Times)
Heathrow next, warn activists who caused Stansted chaos
airports after protesters breached the security fence at Stansted. Members of
Plane Stupid, which campaigns against climate change and air travel, chained themselves
to a makeshift barrier close to the airport’s runway. A spokeswoman for the group
said it intended to repeat the action at Heathrow, where plans are under consideration
to build a third runway. (Guardian)
has broadened. It no longer emanates exclusively from the standard alliance of
eco-campaigners and local objectors, and includes Ed Miliband and Hilary Benn,
as well as the Conservative party. All have made it clear they believe that a
third Heathrow runway and the resulting expansion of Britain’s aviation industry
do not represent sensible use of resources. (Observer)
them
95% said it would make little or no difference. In contrast, 23% of businesses
believe they will be helped by a new high-speed rail line to the North, as proposed
by David Cameron. This proves how wrong the Government is to say that British
business is crying out for Heathrow expansion. In fact, only a tiny proportion
of businesses stand to benefit. (Restore UK)
It has been reported the cabinet is split over the runway plan. Theresa Villiers
accused the government of “dithering on the future of Heathrow”, adding: “Opposition
to a 3rd runway is gathering momentum every day. “I suspect this postponement
is an indication that Gordon Brown is finally starting to realise that he is on
the wrong side of the debate on Heathrow.”
to January 2009, the Department for Transport has said. The decision had been
expected before Christmas. It had been reported the cabinet was split over the
issue – the Tories and Lib Dems oppose a 3rd runway and some Labour backbenchers
have called for a rethink. Mr Hoon said the government had made it clear it supports
a 3rd runway – “subject to environmental controls”. (BBC)
within days, despite last-ditch protests by environmental campaigners. The imminent
decision comes amid business complaints about the lack of capacity. A 3rd runway
would increase its flights by nearly a half, according to BAA. Expansion is bitterly
opposed by thousands of west London residents, who resent the congestion, noise
and disturbance caused by the sprawling airport. (FT)
action protests in the New Year. They will carry out co-ordinated attacks designed
to cause maximum disruption, and want to make the Government pay for “broken promises”
by targeting leading MPs and Heathrow officials. Plans included jamming roads
with cars on a go-slow, chaining themselves up at the airport, blasting loud music
outside MPs’ homes, and more. (Standard)