Boris Johnson and David Cameron clash over Heathrow expansion
London Mayor Boris Johnson will not be given a veto on the plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport, says David Cameron.
The London Mayor has called the commission investigating into airport capacity in the UK "too slow". Mr Johnson opposes the expansion of Heathrow and said that the decision making process displayed a "policy of utter inertia".
Mr Cameron has argued that the decision is a national one and as a result the government should lead it, rather than Mr Johnson. The Prime Minister said that the London Mayor only wanted his plan for the development of a Thames Estuary airport to be considered.
Sir Howard Davies, head of the commission, announced on Friday that following the 2015 general election, he aims to give the next government a “flying start" on the expansion issue.
Boris Johnson however has said that “It's going to be toxic and disastrous to go into the election of 2015 with Heathrow runway three still on the agenda”. Mr Johnson warns that if the plans are not scrapped before the next general election, the Conservatives will suffer.
There has been increasing pressure on the government to expand Heathrow airport from businesses. Sir Howard has been asked to begin a review the situation and said that this “the first time a government has properly put all the options, including estuary options, on the table". All the potential options are being reviewed, including Mr Johnson’s favoured plan for an estuary airport.
An interim report is to be produced by the end of next year with narrowed down options. The options include the expansion of Heathrow, a hub combining Heathrow and Gatwick as well as the development of a new airport in the Thames Estuary.
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