Should Gatwick Airport have a second runway?

What’s the future for British airports? Earlier this month, The Spectator hosted a lunchtime discussion sponsored by Gatwick Airport with MPs and policymakers who had come to test its thesis: that expanding London’s second airport is the most sensible way forward, as it would boost competition while causing a fraction of the noise pollution.

The debate was chaired by Andrew Neil. Also present were Fraser Nelson, editor of The Spectator, political editor James Forsyth, client services director Melissa McAdden, Kwasi Kwarteng MP and the Institute of Directors’ Simon Walker.

Andrew Neil opened the discussion by asking Stewart Wingate if he expected the Davies report was moving in the direction of a third runway at Heathrow.

Stewart Wingate (SW): Essentially what has happened over the last year is that we started off with 4 or 5 likely runners and riders, including Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted and the estuary option. But as we approach Christmas time, our view is that the tighter the shortlist the better, and we think it should be down to Gatwick and Heathrow.