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Cabinet locked in bitter row as Ed Miliband and key ally try to block £49billion plans for third runway at Heathrow
Senior ministers are divided over a proposed £49 billion expansion of Heathrow, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, Chancellor John Healey and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds reportedly supporting it, while Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh oppose it. The dispute reflects a wider Cabinet tension between prioritising economic growth and protecting environmental goals, and puts pressure on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to decide whether the project should proceed.
The plan would add a 3,500-metre third runway and raise the airport’s capacity to 150 million passengers a year. Burnham has not publicly endorsed the expansion; as Manchester mayor, he had criticised it for risking investment in northern infrastructure, and he is reportedly seeking time to consider the decision. Ministers are also divided over data centres, solar farms and the Rosebank oil field.
In short
- Cabinet ministers are split over Heathrow’s proposed £49 billion expansion.
- The third runway could raise capacity to 150 million passengers a year.
- Burnham has yet to decide whether to back the project.