Jeremy Corbyn declares backing for Gatwick in battle with Heathrow for extra runway

Backing: Jeremy Corbyn has thinks Gatwick should get the extra runway
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Jeremy Corbyn has declared that Gatwick would be a better choice than Heathrow for an extra runway.

Labour’s leader said the West Sussex airport was one “possibility” for expansion during a visit to nearby Crawley.

He confirmed his opposition to a third runway at Heathrow because of air quality concerns and said other airports further afield should be considered.

His intervention leaves Labour divided, with at least nine of its London MPs backing Heathrow - including former mayoral hopefuls David Lammy and Gareth Thomas plus former Minister for London Jim Fitzpatrick.

“Gatwick already has spare capacity at the moment and does have facility to expand beyond 2019,” Mr Corbyn told the West Sussex Country Times while visiting a nursery.

“Gatwick is a possibility but I also think we should look at the under-used capacity all around the South and the South East ... and further afield in Birmingham.”

A group of 14 London business leaders today signed a joint letter calling on David Cameron to hurry up and allow Heathrow to expand.

“Heathrow expansion will bring up to 40 new long haul routes – connecting Britain directly to Wuhan and Nanjing,” said the business people, who include Edwardian Hotels managing director Inderneel Singh, and Kay Buxton, head of The Paddington Partnership.

“We don’t want to rely on Paris for our tourists. It is time for the Government to make a decision and expand Heathrow.”

Gatwick Airport
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

They said that over the past decade while Heathrow was full, French rival Paris Charles de Gaulle increased its flights to East Asian routes by “a staggering 21 per cent”.

The Cabinet is due to make a decision within weeks on whether to expand Heathrow or Gatwick.

In July the Airports Commission recommended a third runway at Heathrow, saying it would deliver the biggest boost to the national economy.

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