Tories turn on Johnson as he DODGES showdown Heathrow vote

Boris Johnson defended skipping the crunch vote on Heathrow today – insisting there was no point quitting over the issue.

The Foreign Secretary hit back after he was openly ridiculed by senior Tories and battered on social media for swerving the Commons showdown.

He previously vowed to ‘lie down in front of bulldozers’ to prevent the third runway being built. 

But Mr Johnson, who is due to be abroad when the vote happens tonight, said it would not have helped to follow colleague Greg Hands in resigning from the government.

‘My resignation would have achieved absolutely nothing,’ he said in a letter to local councillors.

Ministers have appealed to MPs to help make Brexit a success by giving the go-ahead for the west London plan after half a century of indecision and delay.

But the clash will expose deep divisions across parties – with signs that up to half of Labour MPs could defy Jeremy Corbyn to support the scheme. 

Boris Johnson (pictured left on a visit to the National Oceanography Centre on Friday) will be out of the country for the Heathrow clash in the Commons tonight

Social media users wasted no time in having some fun at Mr Johnson's expense today

Social media users wasted no time in having some fun at Mr Johnson’s expense today

The Heathrow scheme was signed off by the Cabinet earlier this month, but now needs to be approved by MPs

The Heathrow scheme was signed off by the Cabinet earlier this month, but now needs to be approved by MPs

Mrs May has confirmed Mr Johnson will be abroad acting as the ’embodiment of Global Britain’ when the Commons clash happens – although his exact destination remains a mystery for ‘security reasons’, with speculation he might be headed for Africa.

He had been expected to attend an EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg today, but Alan Duncan is now due to deputise. 

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling admitted that he has ‘no idea’ where Mr Johnson will be when MPs vote. If the government wins, Heathrow will have outline planning permission to expand – a major step towards the project becoming a reality.

What are MPs being asked to approve and what happens next? 

MPs will be asked to approve the National Policy Statement on new runway capacity in the Commons tonight. 

Approval will effectively mean that Heathrow has outline planning permission for the expansion. 

However, even if the government wins that is far from the end of the matter. 

The airport will still have to come forward with its own detailed plans, after which there will be 18 months of consultation and a planning application process.

Critics have already made clear they will seek a judicial review of the scheme – raising the prospect of more delays.

Even the most optimistic supporters of the plan do not expect it to get under way until the mid-2020s.

‘I have no idea where Boris is, genuinely no idea where Boris is,’ Mr Grayling told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

‘The Prime Minister has been very clear that there are people in the party who, for various reasons, have long held views about the airport and we are not going to whip those people into voting.’ 

Mr Grayling said he was ‘cautiously optimistic’ that MPs would approve the plan, which was approved by Cabinet earlier this month. 

He stressed ‘the taxpayer is not going to be paying for the expansion of Heathrow Airport’.

Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston turned the screw on Mr Johnson by urging him to follow the example of Mr Hands and quit in protest.

‘I think this would be an opportunity for a colleague like Boris Johnson to actually put his money where his mouth is,’ she told the BBC’s Westminster Hour.

Former minister Robert Halfon said it would be a ‘good thing’ if Mr Johnson quit on principle.

But in a letter to councillors in his Uxbridge & Ruislip constituency, seen by the Evening Standard, Mr Johnson signalled defiance.   

‘I have long been an opponent of a third runway at Heathrow and that is why I am not voting for it tonight,’ he wrote.

‘I have made clear my opposition since joining the government, and I will continue to lobby colleagues from within government. Some of my critics have suggested that I should resign over the issue. No doubt they have my best interests at heart.

‘But it is clear from what is likely to be a large majority of MPs who are in favour of a third runway that my resignation would have achieved absolutely nothing.’

Mr Johnson claimed councillors had told him they would ‘rather have me in the cabinet and fighting for their cause on this and other issues’.

And he insisted he could still end up making good on his pledge to lie in front of bulldozers.

How Theresa May previously opposed Heathrow plans 

Theresa May spoke out against Heathrow expansion before gaining power. 

The PM’s Maidenhead constituency is near the airport, and in 2009 she suggested local residents would be ‘devastated’ if it grew larger.

Statements on her website, since deleted, included: “I am clear that we must say no to a third runway at Heathrow…

“The building of a third runway will push many of the existing departure routes from the other two runways directly over Maidenhead. 

‘In addition, the proposed arrival routes will see more planes travelling directly over Twyford as they come in to land.’

At the time Conservative Party policy was to oppose a third runway. 

Downing Street said Mrs May had been clear since becoming PM that expanding Heathrow is in the national interest. 

‘In view of the very considerable difficulties that still face the third runway — its cost and the appalling air and noise pollution entailed by the project — I believe it will be a very long time before we have to make good on that pledge; if indeed a 3rd runway ever comes about,’ he said. 

Mr Hands, who quit last week so he can oppose Heathrow, pointedly tweeted yesterday that he had arrived back in the UK to fulfil his ‘commitment’ to oppose the third runway project in the Commons.

In a barely-veiled swipe at Mr Johnson, Mr Hands said he ‘wouldn’t want to miss’ the showdown.

Chancellor Philip Hammond, whose Runymede constituency is near the Heathrow flightpath and was once rumoured to harbour concerns, will also be out of the country on business in India.  

Speaking to journalists today, Mr Corbyn joined the attacks on Mr Johnson and said the public ‘should be told’ where he would be. 

‘I would have thought, if nothing else, as a constituency MP he would want to be in the Commons because, after all, his constituency is very, very near to Heathrow, and he has in the past made very strong statements against Heathrow,’ he said.

‘But, he seems to be somewhere abroad, unknown destination, and nobody seems to be fully aware of where the Foreign Secretary is. And, I think we should be told.’ 

Mr Corbyn added: ‘If he is unable to be present, then we have to ask the question what on Earth is he doing and who is he representing?  

The government is likely to win the vote comfortably, as Labour has offered MPs a free vote – despite the leadership opposing the plans. More than a hundred could support the project, while the SNP is on track to abstain.

Theresa May pictured at a fete in Maidenhead yesterday

A pub in Bolton joined in mockery of Mr Johnson on social media today

Theresa May (pictured left at a fete in Maidenhead yesterday) stands accused of trying to fix the Heathrow vote by forcing MPs to take a decision before a crucial environmental report is released. A pub in Bolton joined in mockery of Mr Johnson on social media today (right)

The Prime Minister has said the huge project at Heathrow (artist's impression pictured) is part of the overhaul needed to ensure the UK can 'thrive' outside the EU

The Prime Minister has said the huge project at Heathrow (artist’s impression pictured) is part of the overhaul needed to ensure the UK can ‘thrive’ outside the EU

Some Twitter users joked that football would be coming home before Mr Johnson - while Tory MP Sarah Wollaston suggested he should ride a bulldozer to the Commons 

Some Twitter users joked that football would be coming home before Mr Johnson – while Tory MP Sarah Wollaston suggested he should ride a bulldozer to the Commons 

Greg Hands pointedly tweeted yesterday that he had arrived back in the UK to fulfil his 'commitment' to oppose the third runway project in the Commons

Greg Hands pointedly tweeted yesterday that he had arrived back in the UK to fulfil his ‘commitment’ to oppose the third runway project in the Commons

Tory MP Sarah Wollaston said Mr Johnson should 'put his money where his mouth is'

Greg Hands quit as a minister so he could vote against the expansion when it comes to the Commons tomorrow

Tory MP Sarah Wollaston said Mr Johnson should ‘put his money where his mouth is’. Greg Hands quit as a minister so he could vote against the expansion

But there could be a significant political cost for Mrs May, who has decided to enforce a three-line whip on Tory MPs. 

The resignation Mr Hands put pressure on MrJohnson and other potential airport rebels to follow suit. 

Sources said Mr Hands, the Tory MP for Chelsea and Fulham, was offered the opportunity to skip the Commons debate by arranging an overseas trip.

But he insisted he had to honour pledges made in election leaflets last year in which he vowed to fight the plans. 

What are the alternatives to the expansion of Heathrow Airport?

Here are some of the alternatives to expanding Heathrow Airport which have been put forward:

Don’t do anything: 

Some say Britain should stop fuelling endless airport growth.

But critics warn that not increasing UK airport capacity will harm trade.

Boris Island:

One of the more eye-catching suggestions, Boris Johnson has suggested a floating airport built in the Thames Estuary should be built.

This would mitigate issues of noise, air pollution and space would all be mitigated.

It would also provide the chance to close Heathrow entirely – solving the problem of noisy flight paths that have plagued West London and allowing new development of the area.

Expansion of Gatwick or Stansted: 

Fewer people live near Gatwick and Stansted airports meaning that airport development will be far less controversial.

Combine Gatwick and Stansted into a super hub airport

High speed rail links could join the two airports – providing a super hub that would eliminate the need for Heathrow to be London’s main hub airport.

Increase capacity at local airports:  

Regional airports elsewhere in the UK have more spare to build on. These could be expanded eliminating the need for a large hub airport.

 

By contrast, Mr Johnson, MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, will fly out of the country, avoiding the need to resign.

Mr Hands tweeted yesterday: ‘Great to arrive back in the UK at Luton Airport in time for the match today and to vote against #Heathrow expansion tomorrow. I wouldn’t want to be abroad for either of those. #commitments.’

Former Cabinet minister Stephen Crabb said: ‘He’ll need to look his constituents in the eye and explain where he was on the night of the Heathrow vote.’ 

Meanwhile, Mrs May has been accused of fixing the vote by holding it before a crucial environmental report is published on Thursday. 

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) assessment is thought to conclude that the UK’s hopes of meeting greenhouse gas reduction targets will be dashed.

Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said the situation was ‘outrageous’. 

‘MPs will be voting in ignorance of the key facts about emissions from aviation. It’s a free vote but I am recommending all Labour MPs oppose Heathrow expansion,’ he told the Sunday Times. 

The Foreign Secretary is a long-standing opponent of Heathrow’s expansion.

However, Foreign Office sources confirmed he would be travelling to an unspecified destination instead of voting on the £14billion scheme.

One Tory MP said: ‘Boris may not be lying down in front of a bulldozer, but he’s lied in a different way. Greg has put him in a very difficult position.

‘He looks worse than a chicken. The message he’s sending out is that you can’t rely on a word he says. It is very damaging for him.’

Mrs May appeared to mock her Foreign Secretary last week by claiming he would be the ’embodiment of Global Britain’ during the vote.

The PM said: ‘The Government is absolutely committed to increasing airport capacity. This is important, it is part of our future as Global Britain.

‘The Foreign Secretary early next week will be the living embodiment of Global Britain. He will be out there showing the UK’s continued presence around the world.’ 

Former education secretary Justine Greening said the departure of Mr Hands proved Mrs May should have allowed Tory MPs a free vote. 

Heathrow must expand to make most of Brexit, says airport boss

Brexit will bring ‘opportunities’ and expanding Heathrow is essential to seize them, the boss of the airport has said.  

Chief executive John Holland-Kaye, who backed Remain in the referendum two years ago, told the Sunday Telegraph: ‘I campaigned for Remain but Brexit is happening and we have to look for the opportunities.

‘It’s very easy to focus on all the problems but we’ve got to have a plan to become a great, outward looking, trading nation.’

He said the idea of ‘global Britain’ made no sense without a third runway. 

‘Heathrow is a real Brexit bonus,’ he said. ‘We can start to open up China … places I can barely pronounce but are as big as London.

‘We could be the connecting point between these places and North America and that’s an amazing place to be.’

She added: ‘It’s wrong that Greg Hands had to resign for being consistent in representing local community concerns on Heathrow. The Government unnecessarily lost a great minister when instead we could have had a free vote.’ 

London mayor Sadiq Khan has vowed to keep fighting the Heathrow project even if it is passed by the Commons.

Mr Khan has said he will join legal action against the runway if Parliament approves it.

Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said expanding the airport was crucial to seize the ‘opportunities’ of Brexit. 

Mr Holland-Kaye, who backed Remain in the referendum two years ago, told the Sunday Telegraph: ‘I campaigned for Remain but Brexit is happening and we have to look for the opportunities.

‘It’s very easy to focus on all the problems but we’ve got to have a plan to become a great, outwardlooking, trading nation.’

He said the idea of ‘global Britain’ made no sense without a third runway. 

‘Heathrow is a real Brexit bonus,’ he said. 

‘We can start to open up China … places I can barely pronounce but are as big as London.

‘We could be the connecting point between these places and North America and that’s an amazing place to be.’

 



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