Andy Burnham declines to back own chancellor’s support for Heathrow third runway

Résumé détaillé

Chancellor John Healey told MPs that the government backs plans for a third runway at Heathrow - but PM Andy Burnham distanced himself

Chancellor John Healey has told MPs the Government is “behind” a third runway at Heathrow Airport - but prime minister Andy Burnham declined to back the same position.

Mr Healey set out his support for the project on Wednesday, when he appeared before the Treasury select committee.

Asked what assessment the Treasury had made of the economic benefits of a third runway, and how quickly those might materialise, Mr Healey told the committee: “So the government is behind a third runway at Heathrow, I’m part of the government.

“Our experience in recent decades, is it not, is that successful airports are very often an engine for economic growth in the wider area?

“That’s as true in Manchester as it is true in parts of London and elsewhere.

“In terms of the assessment following the consultation period, that’s not led by the Treasury.

“That’s led by the Department for Transport, and the government is working through the responses and the further update information we’ve got from that.”

Mr Burnham, who has repeatedly refused to back proposals for a third runway, failed to endorse the Chancellor’s remarks.

The Prime Minister said he could not “pre-judge” a consultation into the airport’s expansion, when asked whether he supported Mr Healey’s comments.

Début de l'article, extrait de Evening Standard. Pour lire la suite, ouvrez l'article chez le média.