I would also ask it about the LBA service!! BHX, HUY, GCI, JER, INV, IOM, LPL, NQY, NWI, EMA and PLH have all gone so why not MME and LBA? Many of these have poorer surface links with London than Darlington or Leeds.
If SMB were ever to get his ambition to grow LHR long haul significantly the slots would have to come from somewhere. LBA and MME occupy some prime ones (esp am arrivals) so I would suggest they'd go pronto. By the time Mssrs Blair and Milburn realised this was happening it'd be a done deal. As for Hague, erm, who cares!!