09.09.10
Labour leadership front runner David Miliband has resurrected the prospect of a third runway at Heathrow Airport, the Evening Standard reports. He said yesterday he believes it would boost London's economy, and should go ahead as long as the climate change consequences are addressed. His leadership rival and brother Ed opposes the plans.
Mr Miliband has repeatedly said Labour's Heathrow policy was an example of how the party misjudged public opinion before the last general election. But business groups and trade unions have lobbied for more capacity for the south east, claiming it boosts jobs and trade, and he seems to have accepted this argument over those of locals and environmentalists.
Baroness Jo Valentine, Chief Executive of business group London First, praised Mr Miliband. She said: ‘At last a politician prepared to publicly acknowledge the vital importance of international transport links to London and UK's economy. However, the critical question is not whether to make Heathrow Airport bigger, but how to make it better.’
Greenpeace transport campaigner, Vicky Wyatt, told the newspaper: ‘The third runway, like the Iraq war, is one of the iconic failed policies of Labour's years in power – and a good example of where they lost the argument and lost peoples' trust. David Miliband's decision to offer continued support to Heathrow's expansion makes no sense politically, economically and environmentally, and will no doubt damage his support amongst Londoners.’
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