The Government will back a third runway at Heathrow Airport as it looks to go “further and faster” on growth, the chancellor has announced. In a speech in Oxfordshire on growth, Rachel Reeves said the west London airport’s expansion is “badly needed” because “for decades its growth has been constrained”. Reeves stated that a third runway could increase potential GDP by 0.43% by 2050 and create more than 100,000 jobs. Heathrow’s plan to build a third runway received parliamentary approval in June 2018, but has been delayed by legal challenges and the coronavirus pandemic. Report by Faragt. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00I come to the decision that perhaps more than any other, has been delayed, has been avoided, has been ducked.
00:09The question of whether to give Heathrow our only hub airport a third runway has run on for decades.
00:19The last full length runway in Britain was built in the 1940s.
00:25No progress in 80 years.
00:28In 2018, the previous government steered its airport's national policy statement through Parliament.
00:35But no action was taken. It simply sat on the shelf.
00:41We are taking a totally different approach to airport expansion.
00:46This government has already given its support to expansion at City Airport and at Stansted.
00:52And there are two live decisions on Luton and Gatwick which will be made by the Transport Secretary shortly.
00:58But as our only hub airport, Heathrow is in a unique position and we cannot duck the decision any longer.
01:07I have always been clear that a third runway at Heathrow would unlock further growth, boost investment, increase exports and make the UK more open and more connected.
01:20A third runway could increase potential GDP by 0.43% by 2050.
01:27Over half, 60% of that boost, would go to areas outside of London and the South East.
01:35And a third runway could create over 100,000 jobs.
01:39So I can confirm today that this government supports a third runway at Heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer.
01:49Heathrow themselves are clear that their proposal for expansion will meet strict rules on noise, air quality and carbon emissions.
01:59And we are already making great strides in transitioning to cleaner and greener aviation.
02:04Now is the time to grasp the huge opportunity in front of us.
02:10By backing a third runway at Heathrow, we can make Britain the world's best connected place to do business.
02:17That is what it takes to make decisions in the national interest.
02:22And that is what I mean by going further and faster to kickstart economic growth.