Boris Island airport would crash west London economy says Ken

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

He believes a new hub to the east of the capital would inevitably mean the closure of Heathrow and could lead to thousands of job losses in the area.

The Standard understands that the Labour candidate to be Mayor will in coming weeks focus his campaign on the project dubbed Boris Island - and spend time in west London boroughs he thinks will be adversely impacted.

A campaign insider said: "You can't have a genuine hub airport in the east without ultimately closing Heathrow in the west. That would lead to a total collapse of the west London economy, wiping out thousands of jobs there.

"The Tory Party faces meltdown with people who depend on Heathrow for their jobs - and a backlash in the Thames Estuary."

A source close to Mr Johnson said today: "The gross generalisations and sweeping statements by Ken Livingstone show he is not fit for public life."

The Tory Mayor has called for an airport built on two floating islands near Whitstable. He has also praised designs by Lord Foster to build a £50 billion, four-runway hub airport that could handle 150 million passengers a year with a 30-minute rail link to London.

But Tory MPs in Kent and Essex threatened a rebellion if the Government went ahead with the airport following claims last month that David Cameron will announce a formal consultation on the project.

Critics claimed the Conservatives were trying to accelerate the consultation to boost Mr Johnson's campaign for re-election to City Hall on May 3.

Labour's shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle has said the Government should be concentrating on other options for improving air capacity in the South-East.