MPs vote to back Heathrow third runway, but government faces legal challenge

London’s mayor Sadiq Khan has joined a cross-party group of London councils and environmental campaigners in their last ditch attempt to block Heathrow’s third runway.

They are planning a legal challenge against the new runway, which was approved last night by Parliament.

Khan said the vote was ‘not the end’. He said: “As mayor, I’m joining the legal action brought by local authorities in opposition to Heathrow expansion.”

Friends of the Earth said in a statement: “MPs who backed this climate-wrecking new runway will be harshly judged by history.

“The evidence on the accelerating climate crisis, which is already hitting the world’s most vulnerable people, is overwhelming – and expanding Heathrow will only intensify the misery.”

After MPs voted 415-119 in favour of of the £14 billion project, Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: “It is the will of Parliament that we get on and expand Heathrow after 50 years.”

He promised: “We have to make sure we minimise the impact on local communities.”

Ahead of the vote, protesters attempted to disrupt proceedings, lying down inside Parliament’s central lobby, chanting ‘Vote no, Heathrow’.

The protest referenced local MP and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who, when he became MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, said he would ‘lie down in front of bulldozers’ to stop construction of the third runway’.

Johnson has been widely criticised for missing the vote and instead going away on business to Afghanistan.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling had described the issue as the ‘biggest transport decision in a generation’.

It was welcomed by Virgin Atlantic CEO Craig Kreeger, who said:”We firmly believe that Heathrow is the right choice for expansion and applaud this landmark parliamentary vote. As the country’s only hub airport, Heathrow is uniquely placed to support continued growth in UK trade and tourism – sending a strong signal to the world that we’re open for business. An expanded Heathrow must provide desperately needed, and long overdue airline competition to deliver more international destinations, lower fares and better connectivity to UK regions.

“As we look to the future there are still a lot of important milestones and decisions ahead. It’s important that Heathrow, the Government and airlines maintain the momentum to deliver an expansion which offers value for money for passengers, effective competition, and is mindful of the community.”

Manchester Airports Group said the Government ‘must match its support for a third runway at Heathrow with specific and practical proposals to maximise the potential of others airports — not least because new capacity at Heathrow is more than a decade away’.

Flybe welcomed the decision, adding:” The airline looks forward in continuing to work with Heathrow to explore the viability and commercial feasibility of developing more domestic routes to ensure the expanded airport benefits the whole of the UK.”