It's not at all bizarre for Labour MPs, or anyone else, to support RW3.
We need to remember that the people it negatively impacts are a relatively small number of people who live in West London, plus Schipol airport & etc. The people it benefits are pretty much the whole of the rest of the country and, in many respects, also the people who live in West London.
Having witnessed decades of economy harming paralysis one might be easily mislead into thinking that there was a deeper reason for it. There isn't. It's little more than Not Above My Back Yard-ism, with only a tiny touch of additional Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything-ism.
What people forget about those who live around Heathrow and other areas to the west of London is that there is a great deal of resentment that it is necssary to travel to Gatwick, and/or other airports, to access destinations that are not available from Heathrow simply because of capacity constraints. It would not matter if there was no local airport, but Heathrow is either easily accessible or very close by.
It's only a well-off vocal minority that oppose Heathrow expansion. The problem is that they are very vocal and very rich. The silent majority may well think differently.
It is also neccesary to be aware of the fact that the area under the flightpath has some of the highest house prices in the UK.
This would not be the case if the area was blighted by the presence of Heathrow.
Why not? Birmingham Interchange will be around 50 minutes from Old Oak Common, a similar journey time from central London to Heathrow on the tube...
Forget it, the premium passengers who pay a fortune to fly (first and business class) will not go to Birmingham if they are in the south. These pax want Heathrow, and consequently, so do the airlines. This is also the reason why Gatwick is the "waiting room" for Heathrow, and why carriers will pay several millions for a Heathrow slot pair.
Forget about 50 minutes, the time taken faffing about between Birmingham Interchange and Elmdon (the HS2 station won't be on the airport) and the time faffing around accessing Old Oak will add considerable time to the journey, including copious amounts of walking with luggage involved at both interchanges. Also don't forget the likely fare supplements. Convenient it will not be.
All this, of course, assumes that HS2 is built, and that is by no means a given.
Sorry to sound negative, but this is the reality.
Not a problem, when the vote is due send Greening to Finland to learn how to run an effective comprehensive school system and/or to Germany to learn how to run an effective selective school system. Also Boris could be sent anywhere in the world at the same time.
As for Goldsmith, who cares? He can throw his tantrum and resign, the seat is not going to fall to the Libdems!
Fairdealfrank.
I think we also have to throw into the mix that its been reported frequently that the Govt may allow LHR and LGW to get new runways.However they will not be stumping up any cash.
LHR may be ok to raise their own Gatwick perhaps slightly harder.
However very likely the airports would then have to recoup their money by raising landing charges.
So not sure Ryan Air or Easy Jet would be that keen to have to pay higher landing fees and move from their cheaper current bases.
Agreed, don't think FR would go to LHR under any circumstances. U2 might, it has already stated that they intend to start operations from LHR-4 if LHR has a third rwy. Maybe it assumed that LGW would not have a second as well.
The papers are interested because it's a story that has been there for years but once it's a yes it will simply rumble on as and when there is a hiccup.
Yes It will make the headlines on Tuesday but: it wither away again as it always does.
The only headline will be about "long grass" and "cans being kicked" AGAIN. Yawn.
I cannot see it bringing the government down !
Probably not, but perhaps the government would not mind being brought down: it gives Theresa an excellent opportunity to increase her majority, and to go to the country
before the **** hits the fan, without being accused of opportunism or doing a "cut and run".
Investors beware, I will never let a third runway be built at Heathrow
Oh really?