Labour says Heathrow expansion fails four tests – but won’t whip MPs against it

Today the Labour Party has officially announced its decision on Heathrow Airport expansion: MPs will get a free vote. Labour says the government’s final proposal fails to meet the four tests for the project set out by the party in 2015. According to the Opposition, the final national policy statement would not see Heathrow expansion increase capacity, meet CO2 reduction commitments, minimise noise and environment impact or offer benefits to people across the UK.

Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said: “Heathrow expansion is incompatible with our environmental and climate change obligations and cannot be achieved without unacceptable impacts on local residents. The improved connectivity to the regions of the UK cannot be guaranteed and there are unanswered questions on the costs to the public purse and the deliverability of the project.”

Due to arrive in the Commons on Monday, the vote is a tricky one for both main parties. With London MPs such as Justine Greening prepared to vote against, the Tories are divided. (Labour says this is why it is calling for a free vote for all parties: to encourage Conservative rebels.)

Then there’s the Labour split. The trade unions – particularly Unite – support expansion, which they say would create tens of thousands of new jobs and boost the economy. They are fighting for their members. That means a significant part of the labour movement has been urging the government to get on with the plans and put it to a vote.

But the John McDonnell problem exists, and unlike Boris Johnson he won’t be conveniently missing the vote. The Shadow Chancellor represents Hayes and Harlington, which literally includes Heathrow Airport, and has consistently campaigned against a third runway. He has repeatedly said it will never get built due to the insurmountable environmental impacts.

Labour MPs have been airing the debate on LabourList. Earlier this week, Ian Murray insisted expansion would meet each of Labour’s tests. “We cannot take a project of crucial national economic importance and turn it into a political game,” the Scottish MP concluded. Today Ruth Cadbury uses a LabourList piece to argue that the scheme put forward by the government is “expensive and complex” with “the highest financial and planning risks” and set to “inflicts significant blight from noise and air pollution”. The case in favour of expansion has “crumbled”, she writes, “and this is based on the government’s own evidence”.

Sienna @siennamarla

Sign up to LabourList’s morning email for everything Labour, every weekday morning.