Reeves says 'growth trumps other things' amid Heathrow expansion speculation
The Chancellor is expected to use a speech on growth next week to support the proposed third runway at the west London airport and endorse expansion at Gatwick and Luton Airports
The Chancellor is expected to use a speech on growth next week to support the proposed third runway at the west London airport and endorse expansion at Gatwick and Luton AirportsThe Chancellor is expected to use a speech on growth next week to support the proposed third runway at Heathrow ( (
Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Rachel Reeves is gearing up to challenge key Labour figures who oppose Heathrow expansion, arguing that economic growth outweighs other issues.
The Chancellor is set to back the third runway at Heathrow in an upcoming speech on growth, as well as expansions at Gatwick and Luton Airports.
This stance is likely to spark a clash with environmentalists and senior Labour members like London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, both of whom have previously opposed Heathrow's third runway. Sir Sadiq was re-elected in 2024 on an anti-airport expansion platform, and even Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer voted against Heathrow's expansion in June 2018.
While Ms Reeves declined to comment on "speculation" about Heathrow, she highlighted the government's support for enlarging London City and Stansted Airports. At a Bloomberg event in Davos, when asked about potential conflicts with Sir Sadiq and Mr Miliband over Heathrow, she criticised the previous government's indecisiveness, saying: "This was the problem with the last government – that there was always somebody that said: ‘Oh yes, of course we want to grow the economy but we don’t like that investment, we don’t like that wind farm, we don’t like those pylons, we don’t like that airport, we don’t want that housing near us’."
The Chancellor expressed a firm stance on prioritising growth, stating: "But the answer can’t always be ‘no’ and that’s been the problem in Britain for a long time, that when there was a choice between something that would grow the economy and anything else, anything else always won.
"Now, of course, there are other things that matter, but when we say that growth is the number one mission of this Government, we mean it, and that means it trumps other things. And so we’re making pro-growth decisions in the national interest."
EasyJet's CEO, Kenton Jarvis, supported the expected announcement, saying: "We welcome the decisive action by the Government to grow the economy."
"We’ve always said that aviation, the industry, is an enabler of economic growth."
Regarding Heathrow, Jarvis added: "When it comes to Heathrow, I’ve always thought Heathrow would fit our network of primary airports with great catchment areas.
"It would be a unique opportunity to operate from Heathrow at scale – because obviously right now it’s slot-constrained – and give us an opportunity to provide lower fares for UK consumers that currently at Heathrow just have the option of flag carriers.
"It fits with our network, we’re present at all the other major European airports like Schiphol, Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Geneva etc."
Meanwhile, opponents of airport expansion argue that increasing flights would harm the environment. Alethea Warrington, head of aviation at climate charity Possible, has warned: "Approving airport expansions would be a catastrophic misstep for a Government which claims to be a climate leader.
"This huge increase in emissions won’t help our economy, and would just encourage the small group of frequent flyers who take most of the flights, further worsening the UK’s huge tourism deficit."
She suggested that the Government should focus on supporting "affordable and low-carbon trains and buses".
Meanwhile, Jenny Bates, transport campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: "A decision to green-light another runway at Heathrow would be hugely irresponsible in the midst of a climate emergency and given 2024 was the first year to surpass the all-important 1.5 degrees threshold."
"It would also fly in the face of the Prime Minister’s promise to show international leadership on climate change."
Heathrow’s third runway project secured parliamentary approval in June 2018 but has been delayed by legal challenges over the environmental impact, and the coronavirus pandemic. Currently, there is no Development Consent Order application for the scheme, and it is up to Heathrow if it submits one.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has until February 27 to make a decision on whether to allow Gatwick to bring its existing emergency northern runway into routine use. She also has until April 3 to decide on Luton Airport’s bid to raise its cap on passenger numbers.
There are whispers that Ms Reeves may back the Lower Thames Crossing – a proposed new road link between Kent and Essex – as well as a Universal Studios theme park in Bedford.
(Image:
PA Archive/PA Images) (Image:
PA Graphics/Press Association Images) (Image:
PA Wire/PA Images)
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