On the say MPs left for their summer break on 21st July, the Cabinet Office slipped out the names of 10 senior Tories on the Economic Affairs (Airports) sub-Committee. This committee will consider what to do about a new runway. Chaired by David Cameron it includes vocal supporters of a 3rd Heathrow runway including Chancellor George Osborne and Business Secretary Sajid Javid. There are concerns that the committee’s membership deliberately excludes the Cabinet members (Justine Greening, Philip Hammond, Theresa May, Theresa Villiers – and even Boris). Also on the Committee are: Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, Environment Secretary Liz Truss, Scotland Secretary David Mundell, Communities Secretary Greg Clark, Energy Secretary Amber Rudd, Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin and Chief Whip Mark Harper. The make up of the Committee is seen as indicating that David Cameron is ready to over-rule concerns from ministers who oppose the runway, and suggests the final decision will not be made by the Cabinet as a whole. John Stewart, Chair of HACAN, said: ‘It certainly looks like a stitch-up. It could be Cameron is going for a solution he believes will work ion the short-term but could backfire in the medium term because some of the Cabinet ministers who are against a third runway feel so strongly that it could be a resigning issue.’
.
Tweet
Cabinet ‘stitch-up’ on Heathrow: Cameron takes charge of airport decision – and locks out ministers who oppose runway
- Prime Minister sets up sub-committee packed with pro-Heathrow ministers
- Justine Greening, Theresa May and Philip Hammond all left out of group
- Anti-Heathrow campaigners say: ‘It certainly looks like a stitch-up’
David Cameron was today accused of a ‘stitch-up’ as he took personal charge of the controversial decision on airport expansion.
But the Cabinet committee which will rule on contentious issue includes none of the senior ministers opposed to a third runway at Heathrow.
Today government insiders insisted such a major economic decision had to over-rule local concerns about noise but the move is likely to provoke claims of a stitch-up.
Mr Cameron has already been warned that he faces the prospect of a Conservative revolt and even ministerial resignations if Heathrow gets the go ahead.
Boris Johnson, who now attends political Cabinet meetings, is a vocal opponent of Heathrow.
The Prime Minister said in 2009 that another runway at the west London airport is ‘just not going to happen’ due to concerns about the impact on air quality and noise pollution across the capital.
But a report by the Airports Commission earlier this month found that a third runway is the ‘best option’ for increasing the capacity of UK terminals.
International Development Secretary Justine Greening, Home Secretary Theresa May, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers are all opposed to the idea.
All four have a ministerial interest in Britain’s global air links but have been excluded from the Cabinet committee which will make a decision on expanding Heathrow, Gatwick or another site.
John Stewart, from anti-Heathrow campaign group HACAN, said: ‘It certainly looks like a stitch-up. It could be Cameron is going for a solution he believes will work ion the short-term but could backfire in the medium term because some of the Cabinet ministers who are against a third runway feel so strongly it could be a resigning issue.’
As MPs left Westminster for their summer break last night, the Cabinet Office slipped out the names of 10 senior Tories on the Economic Affairs (Airports) sub-Committee.
Chaired by Mr Cameron it includes vocal supporters of Heathrow expansion including Chancellor George Osborne and Business Secretary Sajid Javid.
Government insiders believe the roll-call is proof that the Prime Minister is ready to over-rule concerns from ministers who happen to be MPs which would be affected by Heathrow expansion.
They are already braced for Miss Greening in particular to be ‘cross’ about being left out of the decision-making process.
Also included in the group are: Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, Environment Secretary Liz Truss, Scotland Secretary David Mundell, Communities Secretary Greg Clark, Energy Secretary Amber Rudd, Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin and Chief Whip Mark Harper.
The committee has been set up to ‘consider matters relating to airport capacity in the South East of England in the light of the Airports Commission’s report’.
A Whitehall source told MailOnline: ‘The Conservative Party was elected to take difficult decisions in the long-term economic interests of the country.
‘Long-term decisions don’t get much bigger than the third runway.’
The creation of the committee suggests that final decision will not be made by the Cabinet as a whole, despite being one of the most significant and contentious issues facing the Conservative government.
.
.
Heathrow critics omitted from ministerial aviation committee
By Jim Pickard, Chief Political Correspondent (Financial Times)
David Cameron has set up a new ministerial committee to consider what to do about aviation capacity in the southeast — and has packed it with supporters of a third runway at Heathrow.
The new group, to be chaired by the prime minister, includes the three strongest advocates of the third runway: George Osborne, chancellor, Sajid Javid, business secretary, and Patrick McLoughlin, transport secretary. None of the prominent critics of the Heathrow expansion, such as Boris Johnson or Zac Goldsmith, has been invited.
…….
via Airportwatch http://ift.tt/1TQqZZX
No comments:
Post a Comment