Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese has slammed "desperate" solicitations by LHR to persuade Manchester Chamber of Commerce to organise an event garnering support for expansion at LHR. He puts a forceful case for greater use of MAN instead, and suggests asking London Chamber of Commerce to host an event promoting Manchester Airport! Meanwhile, MP Graham Stringer comes out in support of LHR expansion and claims that [MAN CEO] Charlie Cornish's stance on the topic is "a mistake".
Would imagine that Blackley and Broughton MP, Graham Stringer, is taking the wider view.
As a member of the Transport Select Committee he must have seen reams of paperwork, heard hours of evidence, and interviewed many in the aviation industry so can be expected to have a reasonable grasp of the issues.
Maybe he should be listened to?
The Transport Select Committee came out in favour of Heathrow expansion long before the Airports Commission was set up and the issue kicked into the long grass.