Heathrow expansion will only go ahead if it meets climate targets, says Ed Miliband

Expansion of Heathrow Airport will only take place if it is within climate targets, Ed Miliband has said.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday morning, the energy secretary said the extension of any airport would have to meet existing carbon budgets and environmental restrictions.

Miliband’s remarks came as he was questioned by Carla Denyer, the co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales.

Denyer said: “Experts are clear the savings from the government’s clean power action plan will be wiped out by 2050 if airport expansion at Heathrow Gatwick in Luton goes ahead, and relying on so-called sustainable aviation fuels would use up to half of the UK’s agricultural land.”

The energy secretary responded: “Any aviation expansion — this is the point the chancellor made last week — has to take place within carbon budgets and within environmental limits.

“But what I would just say to her is that in six months, this government has achieved certainly more than the last government did in 14 years.”

Politics.co.uk is the UK’s leading digital-only political website. Subscribe to our daily newsletter for all the latest news and analysis.