Business leaders from across Britain called on David Cameron to “stop procrastinating” over Heathrow expansion as the Cabinet finally gathered for a crucial decision-making meeting.
In a strongly worded letter signed by more than 20 Chambers of Commerce, Mr Cameron was told: “Our businesses want delivery, not more reports and recommendations.”
It follows widespread reports that Mr Cameron wants to postpone the inevitable row for another six months by delaying a decision.
But Baroness Valentine, chief executive of London First, warned: “The decision won’t get any easier for the Prime Minister if he delays further.
Sometimes, politicians just have to take the hard decisions as part of governing and stop procrastinating.”
Mark Boleat, policy chief of the City of London Corporation, said: “We need to see this decision being made by the Government by the end of the year.” A Cabinet sub-committee was meeting late this afternoon for the first formal decision-making discussion on Sir Howard Davies’s report, which recommended a third runway at Heathrow. One minister predicted a delay of six months, with Gatwick expansion kept open as an option. “There is nervousness that the Heathrow proposal is unravelling and air quality insoluble,” said the minister.
Whitehall sources said the meeting was due to last at least an hour and will spend time formally making decisions on the basic recommendations of the Davies Commission.
However, there is deep anxiety in Whitehall that any decision about a new runway will face court challenges from residents or rival airports.
