Support for expansion at Heathrow among MPs is growing with two-thirds of Conservative and Labour politicians backing a third runway at the hub airport.
According to a poll of MPs, the first since the publication of the Airports Commission report, shows 68 per cent of Conservative and 66 per cent of Labour MPs being “twice as likely” to support a third runway at Heathrow over Gatwick.
The study found expansion at Heathrow has more support from MPs than both HS2 and Gatwick, which came last in a list of six infrastructure projects.
It also showed 84 per cent believe “an additional runway in the south east is necessary for the UK to remain competitive as a centre for international business”.
The majority of MPs also disagreed that an additional runway would prevent the UK from meeting its emissions targets; a view echoed by the government’s Airports Commission, which confirmed a third runway at Heathrow can go ahead without breaching environmental legal limits, as long as Heathrow continues to implement its mitigation plans.
John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow, said: “Heathrow expansion has backing across the UK from business groups, trade unions and exporters across the breadth of the UK because it is the only way to connect the nation to the fastest growing economies in the world.
“Expansion will allow Heathrow to be the best connected airport in the world, as well as the most environmentally responsible. As we move in to a new year, this latest polling demonstrates we have majority support from MPs and confirms the breadth of support for Heathrow expansion across the political divide.”
The Com Res poll interviewed 150 MPs online and by paper questionnaire between November 12 and December 16.
In December, the government announced it would delay a decision on airport expansion until “at least next summer”. A move which was met with anger from businesses and travel organisation.