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Defiant Hoon ploughs on with Heathrow expansion
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent31.10.08
TRANSPORT Secretary Geoff Hoon today vowed to "make progress" on expanding Britain's airports.
In a strong signal that the Government will give the go-ahead for a third runway at Heathrow, he backed improvements to the rail network, as well as greater airport capacity.
Nearly 100 MPs have backed a Commons campaign, said to be secretly supported by Cabinet ministers, urging the Government to opt for a high-speed train system instead of bigger airports.
But Mr Hoon told the Financial Times: "Positing airport growth and high-speed rail as alternatives is a false choice. We need to make progress on both."
He launched a withering attack on the Tory plan for a high-speed rail link from London to Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester instead of the third runway.
Dismissing the strategy as "perverse", he said it would increase carbon emissions as people taking short-haul flights from Britain's regions to Heathrow to fly abroad would instead have to make their connections in foreign airports.
"The beneficiaries of [shadow transport secretary] Theresa Villiers's policy will be our continental competitors in France, Germany and Holland." Echoing concerns over the Tory approach, Tom Kelly, communications director for BAA and former press chief at No 10, also wrote to the FT. "BAA supports the combination of high-speed rail with a new runway at Heathrow," he wrote.
"There is no evidence that high-speed rail can replace a third runway."
Mr Hoon is due to announce a decision on Heathrow within six weeks.
Reader views (4)
So what was the point of the expensive and complicated 'consultation' process? It is obvious that this incompetent government will always do what BAA command and it was a waste of time sending out thousands of 'consulation' papers when the decision had already been made. Disgraceful.
- Simon, London
I wonder just what interest this unsavoury lot who support unlimited airport expansion have in the aviation industry-can it just be altruistic? And just where does Brussels stand in the debate? It looks to me that when commercial gain on this scale is on offer, then all environmental concerns go out of the window, making the pious green utterances of New Labour and it's EU masters utterly hypocritical. The worst part of it is the stupidity of those involved who don't seem or want to grasp that mass aviation on the basis of cheap flights is now in a steep decline.
- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK
Geoff Hoon, clearly gives signals to the worst kept secret in government that expansion of Heathrow is a done deal.
It always feels that this Labour government does little for the people that call London home.
Lets not forget that the government are trying to lobbying to be excluded from EU pollution rules so that Heathrow can go ahead, and they are intent on reducing the quality of life and lifespan of those in West London.
- William, Chiswick
I think the main beneficiaries of Theresa Villiers's policy will be the people in west London who get to breath clean air and spend time outside without being deaffened by constant aircraft.
By the way, does anyone have a list of the west London Labour MPs who, following this statement from the Transport Secretary, will be looking for a new job in 2010?
- Rich, London
