Liberal Democrats are delighted following a ruling by the
Court of Appeal today (27th Feb) saying that expansion was
unlawful because ministers failed to properly consider the impact
on the climate and the environment.
The case was brought by Friends of the Earth and others, arguing
that Heathrow expansion does not match the UK’s commitments under
the Paris Agreement.
The news comes following a New Economics Foundation (NEF) report
on Thursday that concluded Heathrow expansion would shift 27,000
jobs to London and the Southeast from other regions, as well as
£43 billion of the nation’s income. The Northwest would be
the worst affected losing 15,000 jobs by 2050. The report also
says that a third runway would produce an extra 4 million tonnes
of CO2 emissions.
Liberal Democrat Acting Leader, , said:
"I am delighted that the Court of Appeal have made this decision.
Building a third runway at Heathrow would make it almost
impossible for the UK to achieve net-zero.
"The Prime Minister once pledged to ‘lie down’ in front of the
bulldozers – well he doesn’t even need to do that. If the
Conservatives are serious about taking the climate emergency,
they should simply cancel Heathrow expansion once and for
all.
"Liberal Democrats have always opposed Heathrow expansion and
will continue to hold the government to account on their climate
change commitments."
Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson and MP for
Twickenham, , said:
"This ruling is a victory for common sense. At a time when we
should be promoting greener transport, we cannot allow the
expansion of the country’s single biggest source of greenhouse
gas emissions.
"The Conservatives for too long have pressed ahead with Heathrow
expansion without any consideration for the impact not only on
the climate, but also the impact on South-West London.
"Liberal Democrats hope this Tory government will do the sensible
thing and consign the proposed third runway to the history
books."
