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The 'hypocrites' of Heathrow
Pippa Crerar and Anne McElvoy16 Jan 2009
CELEBRITY critics of the third runway at Heathrow were accused of "hypocritical behaviour" by a government minister today.
Transport minister Lord Adonis suggested that vocal opponents such as Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson should explain why they regularly flew all over the world themselves.
In an interview with the Evening Standard, he said: "People who are frequent flyers have to square that with wanting to deny others the opportunity to fly by constraining airport expansion... therefore rationing flights and making them more expensive."
Thompson, who yesterday said she was "incandescent with rage" at the Government's backing for airport expansion, has just returned from the Golden Globe awards in Los Angeles. She has not opposed flying in principle.
Lord Adonis claimed that opponents of the plans - including Boris Johnson, environmental groups and local residents - were among a minority of Londoners. "I think this is one of those classic issues where there is a silent majority. After all, half of the population fly at least once a year. It's one of those issues where there's a difference between the very loud and vocal campaign groups and the silent majority who actually understand the importance of expanding capacity."
However, the minister said he could understand the concerns of many west Londoners who are against the project.
"Of course I understand why people who live closely would be against it but the job of government is to strike a fair and reasonable balance between different interests," he said. He denied that Labour would suffer an electoral drubbing in seats around west London as a result of the decision. "It's not my job to take crucial decisions about future transport infrastructure based on opinion polls," he said.
"Half of the population do fly regularly and therefore do understand the importance of having a modern, fit-for-purpose airport. I'm confident that the public will ultimately be behind us."
Lord Adonis claimed the Tories - who have officially opposed expansion and called for new high -speed rail links instead - were split over the issue.
"It's clear that there isn't just one view inside the Conservative party," he said. The Mayor, who has promised an all-out fight against expansion, would have to justify his opposition, he said. "The point I'd make is that I note the very strong support of the London business community for it. Boris will need to explain to British business how hobbling Heathrow and making it harder for it to develop as an effective competitor to other European hub airports is in the interest of jobs in London."
Heathrow will become the biggest and busiest airport in the world under the expansion plans with an increase in flights from 480,000 to 700,000 by 2030. In a bid to placate critics inside Labour and the green lobby, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon threw out a proposal for "mixed mode" operations - the use of the same runway by aeroplanes taking off and landing - and said two powerful watchdogs would guard over noise and pollution.
Although the runway will be built earlier than expected - between 2015 and 2030 - airlines will not be allowed to use it unless they switch to new green, clean aircraft. Mr Hoon also promised a high-speed rail line linking London, Heathrow and the North.
Lord Adonis said noise and air quality conditions would be "binding" and revealed that Hilary Benn and Ed Miliband, who led Cabinet opposition to the plans, were now "very happy" with the deal reached. "It is possible to combine an expansion of aviation in general and Heathrow in particular, with meeting challenging carbon targets by 2050."
Labour has twice promised to examine high-speed rail links without committing to them, but the minister said the project would definitely proceed. A dedicated company - High Speed 2 - is expected to report by the end of the year. "The case for a high-speed line has very little to do with replacing domestic flights. It is based on the need for additional inter-city rail capacity," Lord Adonis said.
Reader views (5)
Hi London..
re the third Heathrow run
I guess the usual principle applies.
The nearer a development to ones kitchen window, the louder the protest.
Therefore I am for the third runway.
Edward Harris
Wellington New Zealand.
Ps Does you country really have a character called Lord Adonis, or is he an anagram or something?
- eddie harris, wellington. new zealand, 18/01/2009 02:45
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I was looking at the pic. It might be "their" land, but the climate belongs to all of us - including those of us who can think for ourselves
Please go and save the planet somewhere else.
- Blaggarde, Lower Middle Class, 17/01/2009 22:26
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This expansion is obnoxious:
destroying a village, more carbon emission, more noise, denser air traffic which needs thinning !
- Robert J M BARRETT, LONDoN, GB, 16/01/2009 23:14
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Lord Adonis claimed that opponents of the plans - including Boris Johnson, environmental groups and local residents - were among a minority of Londoners. "I think this is one of those classic issues where there is a silent majority. After all, half of the population fly at least once a year. It's one of those issues where there's a difference between the very loud and vocal campaign groups and the silent majority who actually understand the importance of expanding capacity."
Lord Adonis should check his department's own figures. The silent majority had a chance to speak and they obviously didn't. The consultation yielded nearly 70,000 responses, just 11% of those were in favour of expansion.
And that strong support from the business community isn't there. There were 306 responses from aviation and airline companies, but only another 241 responses from businesses from across the UK! It doesn't appear that the business community is clamouring for a 3rd runway, as we keep being told.
So this government has run a consultation then completely ignored the responses of the PEOPLE and they won't let the elected representatives of the PEOPLE have a vote.
But of course "the job of government is to strike a fair and reasonable balance between different interests"
What fair and reasonable balance would that be?
- Geraldine Nicholson, West Drayton, 16/01/2009 22:44
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very strange that the minister thinks that high speed rail doesnt have anything to do with reducing domestic flights. This is not evident from paris to london or lyon or brussels high speed rail has taken a large percentage of these markets so much so that there are no longer flights to lyon or brussels and london has less flights now.
even high speed rail pollutes less than short haul flights which also take up slots which can be used by more profitable long haul flights which pollute less per person than short haul. maybe the minister doesnt think high speede rail might reduce car traffic either !
- Nick Sloan, welwyn england, 16/01/2009 17:53
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