Conservatives vow to do ‘whatever it takes’ to build Heathrow third runway

A future Conservative government will "do whatever it takes" to deliver a third runway at Heathrow Airport, the shadow chancellor is set to announce.

In an address to the Conservative party conference in Birmingham, Andrew Griffith will say: "We’re ‘all in’ for growth and we will legislate to sweep away the blockers to getting the infrastructure our country needs built."

The comments come after Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the Labour party conference in Liverpool last week that Prime Minister Andy Burnham maintains an "open mind" regarding expansion at the nation’s busiest airport.

Under current plans, Heathrow Airport management aims to obtain planning approval by 2029, though the additional runway is not expected to be operational until 2039.

Rejecting that timeframe, Mr Griffith will say: "I refuse to accept for a single moment that the country of (Isambard Kingdom) Brunel and (Joseph) Bazalgette, of the vaccine taskforce and the Mulberry harbours (built off the coast of Normandy during the Second World War) has to sit around waiting until the 2040s to get a third runway built."

He will tell party supporters: "Countries on the rise have the best infrastructure and connectivity to the world, but our national hub airport is being held back.

"The next Conservative government will do whatever it takes to end the delays and boost capacity by backing the third runway."

Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme last week, Mr Burnham suggested the airport's future was "a matter for London and Londoners".

He added: "I think it’s right that we hear what people have said through the consultation and then consider the way forward from there,"

At a Politico fringe event in Liverpool, Ms Alexander remarked: "I think Andy’s got an open mind."

She noted that the Prime Minister intends to "listen to the views of communities", particularly "the communities most affected in London" as well as commercial interests.

She added: "He’ll be listening to the views of other airports."

Thomas Woldbye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport, responded: "We welcome the growing ‘can do’ consensus behind Heathrow expansion and the Conservative leadership’s recognition of the role we can play in driving growth across the UK.

"Heathrow and our investors stand ready to work with politicians from across the spectrum to finally get the third runway built."