Third runway at Heathrow Airport would drive growth, Healey says
Chancellor John Healey has reaffirmed the government's support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, citing its importance for economic growth and job creation. The project remains a subject of intense debate, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressing caution and local stakeholders raising concerns over environmental and social impacts.
Why it matters
The expansion of Heathrow is a critical infrastructure decision that balances national economic strategy against local environmental and political opposition.
Image source, EPA By Faisal Islam , Economics editor and Tabby Wilson Published 18 minutes ago Chancellor John Healey has said building a third runway at Heathrow Airport has "always been a case for growth", after Prime Minister Andy Burnham refused to say whether he backed the expansion.
Speaking from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings in Bangkok, Healey said that airport expansion, including at Heathrow, had been "a big part of jobs and growth" in recent decades.
His predecessor Rachel Reeves had put Heathrow expansion at the centrepiece of an argument that Britain is open for business.
But Burnham has been more sceptical about the case, telling the BBC it was "a matter for London and Londoners".
It follows a warning earlier this week from Heathrow's chief executive, who said that not building a third runway at the UK's busiest airport would be a "huge missed opportunity".
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