The Financial Times has reported that UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has privately told members of Parliament that he has “always been opposed” to plans for a third runway at London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
The reported position comes as Heathrow executives are said to be acutely aware that Burnham has so far made no public statement setting out his view on expansion at the major UK hub.
Government officials have sought to play down the significance of the report, saying Burnham remains “open minded” on the issue and is awaiting the outcome of the Transport Committee’s scrutiny before making any policy decisions. The committee is currently examining the draft National Policy Statement that would form the basis for a decision on whether to grant planning consent for a third runway at Heathrow.
The uncertainty comes after a debate over Heathrow expansion that has now stretched across three decades, with the airport still without final confirmation of the proposed runway expansion.
The latest developments therefore leave the future of Heathrow’s third runway subject to continued political and policy scrutiny, as the government weighs the proposal alongside the ongoing parliamentary examination.
