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Last month Rachel Reeves publicly announced the UK government’s support for constructing a third runway at Heathrow Airport, reigniting a longstanding debate in the UK, causing polarisation amongst the public and significant divisions within the Labour Party. For this ambitious plan to take off and avoid further delays, it will be crucial for Reeves to balance economic growth against environmental concerns and opposition from the Mayor of London.
The debate around expanding Heathrow Airport dates to a 2003 White Paper recommending expansion at Heathrow. Gordon Brown’s government in 2009 formally approved plans for a third runway, citing its necessity for economic growth. Nevertheless, this proposal was soon scrapped by David Cameron’s coalition government, and it was not until 2015 when the Airports Commission recommended a third runway at Heathrow airport. While Theresa May backed Heathrow’s expansion in 2016, gaining parliament’s approval in 2018, the government ultimately did not take further action to push the project forward after Boris Johnson took power in 2019. Despite the failed attempts of previous governments to successfully wrestle with the political, legal, and environmental challenges of this project, the current government aims to have flights operating from the new runway within a decade.
The expansion aims to increase the capacity of the UK’s largest airport to 140 million passengers annually, remaining competitive with other European hubs like Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt. In doing so, they would increase connectivity, business investment, and strengthen trade links, which remain vital to the UK’s post-Brexit economy. In addition, the government aims to generate over 100,000 jobs across sectors such as aviation, logistics, and construction, contributing £61 billion to the UK economy over a period of 60 years, potentially boosting the UK’s GDP by 0.43% by 2050.
Beyond Heathrow itself, it has been argued that this investment may benefit regional economies across the UK, stimulating demand for skilled workers and providing opportunities for businesses beyond London and the Southeast through improved connectivity to the global economy.
Nevertheless, the plans for Heathrow’s expansion have sparked criticism due to environmental concerns. The International Bureau of Aviation have argued that this could cause Heathrow’s Co2 emissions to rise by 9.43 million tonnes per year by 2030, challenging the UK’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Furthermore, there are concerns surrounding noise pollution, exposing thousands of people to noise levels exceeding 70 decibels, which would impact their quality of life.
The government’s plans have received limited criticism from the Conservatives under Kemi Badenoch as she has expressed clear support for the third runway at Heathrow, based on economic growth and enhancing the UK’s global connectivity.
However, the Labour Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan remains “opposed to a new runway at Heathrow Airport because of the severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution, and meeting our climate targets”. Furthermore, Environmental Secretary and Former Labour Leader, Ed Miliband, has also criticised the expansion of Heathrow and other airports claiming they “won’t go ahead” if they do not meet emission targets. The division amongst senior Labour leaders reiterates the contentious debate of Heathrow expansion and emphasises the tough decisions this government must take in order for the UK’s economy to grow.
The Heathrow third runway project highlights the dilemma the government faces between growing the economy and environmental responsibility. While the economic benefits of expansion are certain, the government risks undermining their own green agenda which has resulted in internal divisions within Labour. While the project has the government’s backing, the expansion faces significant legal and political hurdles before construction can even begin. Therefore, it is crucial for Reeves and the Labour Government to reassure the public that the economic benefits outweigh the environmental impact.
Edited by Connie Newstead
Image: Landing at London Heathrow, Mike McBey, 2014// CC BY 2.0
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