London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, dismisses claims of funding cuts for the city over his opposition to Heathrow’s expansion, stating that the government values the capital.
Sir Sadiq Khan has rejected allegations that London could face a reduction in government support for not backing the Heathrow runway expansion.
What did Sadiq Khan say about funding cuts over Heathrow’s opposition?
A united coalition of councils is forming to push back against Heathrow Airport‘s expansion, with Sadiq Khan suggesting he may lead a “rainbow alliance” aimed at challenging the plan on environmental impacts and noise grounds.
Sir Sadiq has clarified that he is not held to the “collective responsibility” within the Labour government, enabling him to raise his opposition to the third runway at Heathrow, even as Chancellor Rachel Reeves makes it central to her growth strategy.
London’s mayor told The Standard,
“Unlike the previous Tory government, this Government isn’t petty. Unlike the previous Tory government, this Government is pro-London.”
He stated that the current government, unlike the former Conservative administration, recognizes that the country’s success is tied to London’s prosperity, stressing the importance of the capital city.
Mr Khan added,
“The joys of living in our democracy versus America’s is [that] you can disagree with your leader and still get on. You can disagree agreeably,”
adding,
“There are many, many things that I agree with Rachel Reeves about. This one, we disagree.”
Will cross-party councils succeed in opposing Heathrow’s third runway?
A cross-party discussion is scheduled between Liberal Democrat leaders of Richmond, Kingston, Windsor and Maidenhead councils, along with the Tory leader of Hillingdon and the Labour leader of Wandsworth in the coming days to create a plan to resist the third runway at Heathrow.
The leader of Richmond Council and London Assembly member, Gareth Roberts, has warned Chancellor Rachel Reeves, stating, “If she thinks she can push this through without opposition, she’s got another thing coming.”
Mr Roberts stated that a united front of local councils is prepared to collaborate with the mayor, MPs, and local groups to work together to challenge the proposed expansion.
The 2020 Court of Appeal ruling, which halted Heathrow’s expansion proposal, was a result of strong opposition from local councils, but the decision was later overturned by the Supreme Court.
Can Heathrow’s third runway overcome environmental and infrastructure challenges?
Mr Khan expressed the significant hurdles to the third runway expansion, including noise and air pollution, as well as the need to tackle climate change targets. He questioned whether the airport could create a proposal to address these concerns.
Along with opposition from within the party, many environmental groups have raised concerns over the airport’s expansion. As of now, no plan has been shared by the government to address the fears raised by London’s mayor. However, the Chancellor has repeatedly argued that it will contribute to boosting economic growth.
How did Chancellor Rachel respond to Sadiq Khan’s opposition to Heathrow?
Ms Reeves showed her support for a third runway on January 29 in a major speech in Oxfordshire. She has made it clear that she will overcome London’s mayor’s efforts to block her Heathrow expansion.
Despite Sir Sadiq’s opposition, Ms Reeves stated that she has huge respect for London’s mayor but opposes his stance, adding that it is the government’s responsibility to serve the national interest.
The Chancellor intended to complete the planning phase before the next election, expected by 2029, with Heathrow’s expanded operations starting within 10 years of its approval.