Of mice and men: the options for airport expansion

Hugh Robertson was trying to stick up for the Prime Minister this afternoon when he said David Cameron was ‘absolutely a man’. He was defending the government’s decision to stay right where it is on airport expansion, against Tim Yeo’s warning that to stick to manifesto pledges and commitments in the coalition agreement on Heathrow would make Cameron a ‘mouse’. So where does this leave the various options to solve our aviation capacity conundrum? Here is a rundown of the various solutions, and who supports them:

Heathrow expansion

Nine years ago, Labour presented a white paper proposing a third runway at the country’s busiest airport, to be built by 2015-2020. In 2009, the party reconfirmed its support for the runway as well as a sixth terminal. A strong local campaign was fought on environmental grounds, which resulted in the coalition agreement ruling out any expansion in this parliament.

Feelings remain strong on both sides. Two notable Conservatives — transport secretary Justine Greening and Zac Goldsmith — have now made threats over this: Greening today said it would be ‘difficult’ to remain in the Cabinet if the government U-turned on Heathrow, while Goldsmith says he will not fight the next election as a Conservative if a third runway is built.