Tory Reversal On Heathrow Would Be A Betrayal Of Londoners And The Climate - Kramer (Twickenham & Richmond Liberal Democrats)

Tory Reversal On Heathrow Would Be A Betrayal Of Londoners And The Climate - Kramer

July 22, 2009 11:59 AM

Susan Kramer & Sarah Ludford MEP • [Jul 22] Susan Kramer: "IT would be a disgrace if the Conservatives went back on their pledge to scrap proposals for a third runway at Heathrow . . "

COMMENTING on the admission by a Conservative frontbencher that the party might perform a U-turn and support a third runway at Heathrow, Susan Kramer MP, who is leading the Liberal Democrat campaign against Heathrow expansion said:

"It would be a disgrace if the Conservatives went back on their pledge to scrap proposals for a third runway at Heathrow. This would be a betrayal of every statement made to residents living under the flight path and those who care about the environment and climate change. The Conservatives must make clear that they will not perform a U-turn on their green policies. There needs to be a clear statement with no equivocation that the Tories did not simply shift their green rhetoric to try and win seats in South-West London. With Labour also committed to a new runway, the only choice to stop this expansion going ahead is the Liberal Democrats."

[Evening Standard, Jul 22]: "David Cameron's policy on Heathrow expansion was thrown into doubt today after a Tory frontbencher suggested a U-turn may be done on opposing a third runway. The Tory leader stunned many of his MPs with the surprise decision last year to fight the proposed airport expansion. Now, frontbencher Geoffrey Clifton-Brown [Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment] has publicly raised the prospect that this stance, which helped Mr Cameron burnish his green credentials, may be "revisited" after the general election, expected in May next year.

"This is a very difficult and controversial issue. Although I voted to oppose the third runway, I am fully aware of the potential damage this might do to Britain's international air travel. Equally it is pointless Britain cutting down on air travel only to find it goes to other European countries. So I expect this is an issue that will need to be revisited after the election."

Mr Clifton-Brown's views are shared by a number of Mr Cameron's shadow ministers though he is the first to speak out so openly. However a Conservative Party spokesman said: "Under a Conservative government, there will be no third runway at Heathrow. That remains the position."

The comments by the shadow overseas aid minister were made in a newsletter in his Cotswold constituency . . Mr Clifton-Brown's comments over "revisiting" the Heathrow issue will alarm many west London residents who believe the airport expansion will not happen under the Tories. For years, they have fiercely campaigned against a bigger Heathrow."

Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats: