Number 10 reassures aviation sector on Heathrow third runway

Summarised from City AM's report · Updated 10 Oct, 07:25 · Archive

Downing Street has privately assured aviation industry figures that it supports Heathrow's third runway expansion, despite the Prime Minister's public silence on the project.

City AM reports that Downing Street has been privately reassuring members of the aviation sector of its support for Heathrow's third runway expansion. This follows Prime Minister Andy Burnham's refusal to publicly back the megaproject during Labour party conference, when he told the BBC the expansion was 'a matter for London and Londoners'. Many in the industry were disoriented by his public indifference towards the multibillion-pound project.

Government advisers told industry figures that Burnham's remarks were not a sign the government was going cold on the expansion. One aviation executive said: 'No 10 and internal advisers basically told us the Prime Minister hadn't really had the time to focus on aviation and the runway.' The sector had initially been encouraged by Burnham's decision to give aviation minister Keir Mather a brief that explicitly included oversight of Heathrow expansion, and by assurances from business secretary Jonathan Reynolds about the project.

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• Number 10 launches aviation charm offensive after Burnham third runway remarksAndy Burnham’s Downing Street operation has been privately reassuring members of the aviation sector of its support for Heathrow’s third runway expansion, despite the Prime Minister refusing to give the megaproject his backing in a string of media appearances over Labour party conference. City AM understands that Number 10 has been trying to patch up [...]City AM · 10 Oct, 04:47

In this story: Andy Burnham · Keir Mather · Jonathan Reynolds · Thomas Woldbye · Heathrow · London · Number 10

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