𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Labour MPs in London seats have raised concerns about the impact of expanding Heathrow on noise and air pollution in a sign of the battles to come for Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

None went as far as Labour London mayor Sadiq Khan, who responded to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s speech confirming support for a third runway by declaring his outright opposition “because of the severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change target”.

But in a series of comments in the Commons they demanded reassurances that their constituents would be protected.

Ruth Cadbury, chair of the Commons Transport Committee and MP for Brentford and Isleworth, said: “A third runway at Heathrow has significant implications for UK-wide growth, for our carbon commitments, and for the 600,000 people who will live in the new 54 dB corridor of significant noise pollution, as well as air pollution.”

She has announced that her Committee will hold an inquiry into the proposed expansion, saying: “Having more planes in the air and passengers moving to and from airports also needs to be weighed against our obligations to cut carbon emissions.”

Ealing Central and Acton MP Rupa Huq asked Ministers whether the Government would ensure Heathrow expansion met “tests” on carbon emissions and noise and said her constituents “want a better, not a bigger, Heathrow”.

Deirdre Costigan, MP for Ealing Southall, said many of her constituents would welcome “well-paid jobs that airport expansion will bring” but added: “I have other constituents who worry about the environmental impact of any expansion.”

Any Heathrow application must explain “how expansion is compatible with our climate commitments, and with local concerns about air quality, pollution, noise and congestion,” said Danny Beales, Labour MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

And Clive Efford, MP for Eltham and Chislehurst, he voted against Heathrow expansion in 2018 “because I was not satisfied that the legislation before us would deal with air quality, noise, climate change and surface access issues” and said a new runway should only be approved if “those issues have been addressed”.

There was also a warning from Jonathan Brash, the Labour MP for Hartlepool, who said investment in the south must not come at the expense of the north. He said: “Here we are again, debating huge transport infrastructure expansion in the south-east of England while constituents right across this country, especially in the north-east, think, ‘What about us?’”