Heathrow: MPs plot revolt against third runway

PLANS for a third runway at Heathrow were threatened today by a Cabinet revolt.

Ministers were said to be secretly fuelling a Commons rebellion against expansion of the airport. Dozens of MPs were joining a campaign to scupper the proposed runway amid doubts over whether it would be needed if aviation traffic is reduced in a global economic slowdown.

By this afternoon, 50 Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs had signed a Commons motion urging the Government to rethink its policy. The number was expected to rise sharply.

Labour MP John Grogan said: "Some senior ministers have encouraged me to table this motion as there are increasing doubts in government about pressing on regardless with the third runway."

He refused to name any of the ministers. However, The Standard was told that Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has voiced concerns over air and noise pollution from a third runway. Campaigners claim it could not be given the go-ahead without breaching EU environmental laws. Mr Benn's aides did not deny suggestions that he was leading opposition in the Cabinet to allowing heathrow to grow.

A spokesman for his department said: "There has been a consultation on heathrow and the Government is considering the results. The Government aims to make an announcement before the end of the year."

Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband, Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Universities Secretary John Denham and Commons Leader harriet harman were also said to have concerns over a third runway. Ed Miliband's spokesman rejected the claim that he was opposed to expansion at heathrow, as did Mr Denham's.

But aides of David Miliband, who has revolutionised the Government's environmental policy, stopped short of denying the suggestion that he was against a third runway and Ms Harman's officials could not be contacted.

The Government is widely seen to have all but taken the decision to back expansion of the airport. Health minister Ann Keen, the MP for Brentford and Isleworth, is the only minister to have publicly voiced opposition to such a move.

But other junior ministers are also understood to share Ms Keen's position. By midday, 19 Labour MPs, 22 Liberal Democrats and nine Conservative MPs, including shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers, had signed the early Day Motion. She said: "There is a broad coalition of opinion against a third runway. The Government should see sense on this issue and cancel the third runway."

But many business chiefs are furious at the Conservatives' stance. A number of London MPs back expansion, mainly on employment grounds. The Government does not need new legislation but Opposition parties could trigger a vote.