Mr Johnson, pictured in Downing Street this week, previously vowed to ‘lie down in front of bulldozers’ to prevent Heathrow expansion
Boris Johnson has defied a the PM’s gag on speaking out against Heathrow’s third runway – suggesting the airport is ‘not the right place’ for expansion.
The Foreign Secretary made clear his disapproval after the Cabinet finally signed off the project in principle this week.
Theresa May wrote to ministers after the announcement on Tuesday, warning that they must not publicly oppose the plans on the national stage.
But Mr Johnson, who previously vowed to ‘lie down in front of bulldozers’ to prevent Heathrow expansion, told a Conservative Way Forward event last night: ‘It’s the right idea, not in the right place.’
Mrs May is facing a backbench rebellion when the plans to build a third runway are voted on in Parliament over the next few weeks.
Defying a three-line whip would normally mean a minister has to resign.
However, Mr Johnson – whose constituency is close to the flightpath – is expected simply to be out of the country when the vote happens over the coming weeks.
Mrs May has written to ministers to say that those with long-standing objections to a third runway at Heathrow will be permitted to restate their views at a local level – but not campaign actively against the decision.
An artist’s impression of how Heathrow Airport would look with the third runway added
Theresa May hit back (pictured in the Commons yesterday) has warned ministers not to speak out publicly against Heathrow expansion
The runway is expected to cost £14billion and be running by 2026.
It will deliver at least 260,000 extra flights a year, giving Heathrow the capacity for dozens of new routes to trade hubs and tourist destinations.
Up to £2.6billion will be spent by the airport on compensation for residents, noise insulation and improvements to the local area.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling argued that the runway would provide an estimated £74billion boost to the economy over 60 years and better connect the UK to the world with an extra 16million long-haul seats available by 2040.
It will also provide more flights to regional airports.
But critics warn the plan is ‘expensive and complex’ and bad for the environment, with some saying Gatwick airport should be made larger instead.
Mr Johnson previously backed a new development in Kent, having criticised the economic and environmental case while Mayor of London.
Mrs May faced a backlash over the plans from former Cabinet minister Justine Greening yesterday – as she branded the project the ‘worst kind of nationalisation’.
She said: ‘Heathrow played an absolute blinder with the DFT (Department for transport) – they are a privately owned company that now has DFT policy to give them an active monopoly status.
‘They have somehow managed to get a poison pill clause agreed by the DFT that means the taxpayer has to cover all their costs if things go wrong.
‘Isn’t this the worst kind of nationalisation – the public sector and taxpayers owning all of the Heathrow downsides and risks and the private sector owning all of the upsides and financial returns.’
Buts Mrs May said the plans to build a third runway at the west London airport will bring much-needed jobs to the country.
She said: ‘Yesterday’s decision to support Heathrow expansion demonstrates this Governments commitment to delivering the jobs and major infrastructure that this country needs to thrive.
‘But the airport expansion will be fully financed by the private sector. The statement of principles is clear that it does not give Heathrow airport limited the right to claim any costs or losses from Government should their scheme not proceed.’
Meanwhile, Labour has hinted it could vote against the airport expansion plans.
A spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn said the party remained in favour of airport expansion in the south east, subject to four tests set out on the manifesto.
But in a signal Labour could vote against the Government’s plans, the spokesman said: ‘It has to meet those four tests.’
The spokesman would not be drawn on which of the tests – on noise, air quality, climate change and economic growth – was causing concern.
But he said Labour needed to see ‘more detail’ before deciding whether to back the Government version.
After the long-delayed airport expansion finally received Government approval the PM today said the plans will be brought to parliament to be voted on in a ‘ timely’ fashion.
Former Education Secretary Justine Greening (pictured in the Commons yesterday) confronted Mrs May about the plans at PMQs yesterday
The Prime Minister has said the huge project at Heathrow (pictured) is part of the overhaul needed to ensure the UK can ‘thrive’ outside the EU