The Heathrow third runway debate

There won't be a final decision on Britain's long-term aviation strategy until after the 2015 general election - but a national debate is already underway. A third runway at Heathrow is just one of many in this complex area of policy: extra capacity at other airports can be expanded; an extra runway could be constructed elsewhere in the south-east; and the regional airports are keen to have their say too. With the UK falling behind its competitors but needing to take environmental considerations into account, there's all to play for.

Feature: Britain's elusive aviation strategy

One apparently grounded for good, the Heathrow third runway debate is now encountering a severe period of political turbulence

Once apparently grounded for good, the Heathrow third runway debate is now encountering a severe - and prolonged - period of political turbulence.

Issue brief: Airport expansion

Heathrow airport, with London's skyline behind

Background, controversies, stats and more

Comment: Time to get serious about Heathrow

Our competitive advantage is at risk says Marshall

It's first step toward a proper aviation strategy.

Comment: West London will fight expansion

Cllr Trust has been a Lord since 2011

Lobbyists wined & dined to get Heathrow considered

'Total abrogation of leadership' on infrastructure investment

UK infrastructure investment is outside of the Premier League

Successive British governments have demonstrated a "total abrogation of leadership" in their approach to infrastructure development in the UK, a leading construction industry official said today.

comments comments

Snub for Boris as MPs back Heathrow expansion

Heathrow's transport links were also in the spotlight

An influential Commons committee has slapped down the idea of building any new airports in London, in a move which will spark anger in City Hall.

comments comments

'It's a living nightmare': Parliament's anti-HS2 ringleader emerges

Cheryl Gillan: 'They woke on Monday morning to the living nightmare my constituents have experienced since March 2010'

Commuters will see their rail fares continue to rise to pay for the new High Speed Rail line, its leading parliamentary critic has said.

comments comments

A new London airport 'would need taxpayer funds'

Spare any change? A new hub airport would sting the taxpayer.

Serious doubts were raised on the financial viability of building a new hub airport in London today, after an influential committee of MPs said it would require an injection of taxpayer funds.

comments comments

Boris: Cameron's Heathrow policy is 'toxic and disastrous'

Planes over London: Campaigners believe expanding Heathrow adds to a pre-existing problem.

The coalition's decision to kick airport expansion into the long grass until the next election is "toxic and disastrous", Boris Johnson said today.

comments comments

Opinion Former News

IET: Government aviation policy is in a silo and too short-term

With global aviation traffic set to soar by up to 16 billion passengers by 2050, the Government urgently needs a long-term aviation policy, which effectively integrates with other transport systems such as rail.

IET: Heathrow targets real-time data and smart technology to become more resilient and efficient

Heathrow Airport is focusing on investment in real-time data and systems and smart technologies to overcome the daily challenges it faces as the world’s busiest airport, according to Philip Langsdale, Chief Information Officer, Information Technology at Heathrow Airport.

BHA: Lords debate Personal, Social, Health and Economic education

On Tuesday the House of Lords debated Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education, including Sex and Relationships Education (SRE). The debate was initiated by Baroness Massey of Darwen, Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, and saw her and many other Lords argue in favour of strengthening the teaching of PSHE in schools. The British Humanist Association (BHA) briefed peers ahead of the debate.

Bristol airport: Give us the runway instead

Heathrow airport talks of expansion and Bristol airport responds.

The constant bickering over airport capacity in London prompted Bristol airport to suggest politicians look outside the capital for solutions to the UK's aviation policy today.

comments comments

Comment: MPs either don't understand – or care about - science

Matthew Ashton: 'You have to wonder why governments bother to employ scientists at all.'

Heathrow and the badger cull suggest government and MPs remain entirely uninterested in science.

comments comments

Govt adviser wants four runways at Heathrow

Locating more Heathrow runways further away from London would reduce environmental damage, Tim Leunig says

Heathrow should double its capacity by becoming a four-runway airport, a government adviser has proposed.

comments comments

Boris: Aviation policy leading to economic catastrophe

Boris Island is still on the table according to Johnson

Boris Johnson has again attacked the government's handling of the disputed third runway at Heathrow, claiming the UK is on track for "economic catastrophe" as a result.

comments comments

Comment: The people of west London will fight Heathrow expansion

Cllr Trust has been a Lord since 2011

Industry lobbyists have wined and dined until an unacceptable expansion of Heathrow is back on the table.

comments comments

Comment: Time to get serious about Heathrow

Our competitive advantage is at risk says Marshall

A third runway at Heathrow would the first step toward a proper aviation strategy.

comments comments

Boris denies 'cloud cuckoo land' plot against PM

Boris Johnson and David Cameron are increasingly at odds this summer

Reports that Boris Johnson might challenge David Cameron by returning to the Commons have been dismissed as "cloud cuckoo land".

comments comments

Into the long grass: Heathrow third runway decision deferred

Heathrow airport, with London's skyline behind

The coalition government will not make a final decision on the Heathrow third runway question before the 2015 general election, it has been confirmed.

comments comments

Reshuffle aftermath: Right-wingers welcomed to Cabinet

The two faces of Cameron? Critics claim the progressive Tory from his opposition days is not reflected in the new Cabinet.

David Cameron's new Cabinet will meet today, amid accusations that the government has swung decisively to the right.

comments comments

Comment: Dithering Britain will leave the runway debate grounded

Time to get on with the third runway debate

Look at us - we're at it again. Just a few weeks ago the Olympics opening ceremony summed up Britain's history by portraying our green and pleasant land being paved over with industrialised concrete. Now the tensions it embodied have arrived in parliament.

comments comments

Cameron's reshuffle: The reaction

Reshuffle 2012: the political reaction

Pressure, groups, MPs and Labour respond to Cameron's first reshuffle.

comments comments

Tory MP threatens by-election over Heathrow runway

Goldsmith will stand down if the government support the third runway

A Tory MP has threatened to trigger another by-election in a marginal seat if the government reneges on its promise to oppose a third runway at Heathrow.

comments comments

Political news to your inbox

Fill in your details to receive Politics.co.uk's brand of informed, in-depth and independent coverage of Westminster to your inbox

Hot topics

Britain's great energy debate

How the power gets to Britain's homes in the next century remains a matter of deep controversy

As the next general election begins to loom over the horizon, the debate over Britain's future energy policy mix is starting to hot up - and nothing seems guaranteed.

The Heathrow third runway debate

Heathrow's third runway is just one of many options

There won't be a final decision on Britain's long-term aviation strategy until after the 2015 general election - but an aggressive national debate is already underway.

Opinion Former Events

BSIA: Information Destruction Exhibition & Conference 2013

Following the great success of the BSIA's Information Destruction Conference and Exhibition in May 2012, we are pleased to annouce that the event is returning again in June 2013. This one-day conference and exhibition is aimed at key decision makers in organisations that carry out the secure destruction of confidential material.