Quote: It could be, of course, that the Free Enterprise Group have just graduated en masse from Negotiating 101 - demand more than you want and then the other side is relieved when you agree to settle for half of your original request.
I think that is almost certainly what it is, and also the reason why the Estuary airport is being proposed as the alternative.
Shall we build a third runway, at a fraction of the cost, or build a mega expensive new airport in the middle of a wild fowl sanctuary on the other side of London?!
The third runway starts to look like the best option...