Cabinet ministers intensified pressure on Andy Burnham over the expansion of Heathrow today, exposing growing divisions within Labour.
Chancellor John Healey said the Government was “behind” the project, despite the Prime Minister maintaining a non-committal position.
Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told a conference that ministers were “moving Heaven and Earth” to advance the scheme, describing it as a potential “shot in the arm” for the South East.
Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have been strong supporters of a third runway at Heathrow, but Mr Burnham has adopted a notably cautious stance since entering No10.
The Prime Minister has criticised the proposal for years. In January last year, while still mayor of Greater Manchester, Mr Burnham described the expansion as a “model for an ever-overheating UK economy”.
He also warned that it must not come at the “expense of essential investment in northern infrastructure”.
Heathrow bosses are seeking permission to build a full-length, 3,500-metre runway
Chancellor John Healey said the Government was “behind” the project despite the Prime Minister’s cautious stance
Cabinet factions now appear to be preparing for a confrontation over the plans, with Mr Healey, Ms Alexander and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds regarded as their leading supporters.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Net Zero Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh are understood to be considerably more sceptical.
The Government is weighing responses to a consultation on the national planning statement. A Commons vote is expected next year, although sources stressed that no timetable has yet been confirmed.
Asked about the Treasury’s assessment of the economic benefits of a third runway, Mr Healey told the Treasury Select Committee: “The Government is behind a third runway at Heathrow, and I’m part of the Government.
“Our experience in recent decades, is it not, is that successful airports are very often an engine for economic growth in the wider area? That’s as true in Manchester as it is in parts of London and elsewhere.
“In terms of the assessment following the consultation period, that’s not led by the Treasury. That’s led by the Department for Transport, and the Government is working through the responses and the further updated information we’ve received.”
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Speaking at the Airlines UK conference, Ms Alexander said: “No government in recent years has moved further or faster on airport expansion than this one.
“Within months of becoming Transport Secretary, I approved proposals from both Luton and Gatwick.
“It was a shot in the arm for capacity in the South East.
“Tens of millions of additional passengers. Thousands of new jobs. New routes made possible…
“The same applies to Heathrow. We have been clear that a third runway could unlock opportunities, jobs, investment and growth across the country.
“That is why we moved heaven and earth to deliver a draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement faster than expected.
“But before making a final decision in line with our four tests, we are rightly listening to what the public and industry have told us through the consultation.”
In 2018, Mr Burnham said: “I’m against a third runway at Heathrow because of the need to limit national levels of aviation. We should use spare capacity at Manchester and Birmingham instead.”
The Prime Minister, pictured in the Commons today, has criticised the proposal for years
The following year, he warned that the expansion would “trap infrastructure spending inside the M25 for ten years”.
Heathrow Airport Limited is seeking permission to construct a full-length, 3,500-metre runway, a project that would require the M25 motorway to be moved.
Ms Reeves said in June that she was determined to get “spades in the ground” for the third runway during the current Parliament, with the aim of completing the project by 2035.
However, suggestions have emerged that 2039 may be the earliest possible completion date, while planning permission is hoped to be finalised in 2029.