Transport Secretary Justine Greening today insisted she will not back down over a third runway at Heathrow — as Gatwick made a bid to solve London’s aviation crisis.
Putney MP Ms Greening was challenged about the airport after David Cameron appeared to soften his stance on expansion.
Pressed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on whether she was personally shifting her stance on Heathrow expansion, she bluntly replied: “I’m not.”
This week Gatwick will flesh out plans to increase passenger numbers by 12 million from 34 million a year with its existing runway and two terminals.
Its proposals also outline a scenario for a second runway, and possibly another terminal, to be built after 2019, taking passenger numbers to 70 million a year. Gatwick is building air links to emerging economies as it tries to become a business rival to Heathrow.
Ms Greening stressed the Coalition agreement, opposing more runways at Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick, stood and she denied the Government was changing its position.
