Brexit has “cast doubts” on whether a third runway at Heathrow will ever be given the green light, the chairman of anti-expansion group Hacan has said.
Chairman John Stewart said David Cameron has lost the fight of his life and because the favourite to become the next prime minister is fierce Heathrow critic Boris Johnson the decision is now “up in the air”.
The Airports Commission has recommended a third runway at Heathrow over expansion at Gatwick. In December, the government further delayed a decision on whether to build a third runway at Heathrow, causing anger among businesses and politicians.
Stewart said he wants the new prime minister to "look again at its desirability, its deliverability and the cost".
"Brexit must cast doubts on whether a third runway at Heathrow will ever be given the green light.
“The prime minister and the chancellor have lost the fight of their lives and 'outers' like Boris Johnson, who is fiercely opposed to Heathrow expansion, have won.
"At the very least, a decision on a new runway must now be up in the air."
“The government had pencilled in 7 or 8 July to announce its runway decision.
"It would be surprising if a lame-duck prime minister risked further splits within the Conservative party by making such a controversial decision just weeks before he leaves office,” said Stewart.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said at uncertain economic times for Britain there has never been a better time for expansion.
“At an uncertain time for the British economy, MPs recognise that Heathrow is a private sector infrastructure project that will spread growth across Britain from the moment that we get a green light,” said Holland-Kaye.
“Now more than ever, people across Britain are counting on the Government to take bold decisions that show we are a confident outward looking trading nation. MPs are clear that expanding Heathrow will help secure Britain’s long-term economic future,” he added.
His comments follow polling released today by ComRes that revealed that MPs across Parliament see Heathrow expansion as the most “important infrastructure project for the future of the UK economy”.
MPs also ranked Heathrow expansion as the top infrastructure project for spreading growth across Britain – ahead of projects like HS2, HS3 and Gatwick expansion.
Heathrow said the findings reveal a “fear among MPs” that at a time when the country needs to unite, regional growth could be undermined if Heathrow isn’t given the green light to expand.