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Expansion of London Airport ‘a disaster for future generations’

Scottish Greens condemn Heathrow Airport expansion plans

The Scottish Greens have slammed the Chancellor’s decision to extend Heathrow airport, with Transport spokesperson Mark Ruskell calling the expansion “a disaster for future generations.”

Rachel Reeves announced her support for a third runway at Heathrow in a speech in Oxfordshire on Wednesday morning. In it, she pushed the concept of funding economic growth by handing billionaire private companies government funding to increase their profits.

The expansion has previously been opposed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Secretary of State for Climate Change, Ed Miliband.

Estimates from Heathrow Airport in 2018 speculated that the cost of a third runway would be over £14bn, with inflation now likely increasing that figure even further.

Scottish Greens Transport spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP said:

“This is yet another climate-wrecking decision from a Labour government that is determined to fund so-called ‘economic growth’ by pouring billions of taxpayers money into the pockets of private companies.

“A third runway will be a disaster for future generations; increasing carbon emissions at this crucial time for our planet's future is nothing but climate vandalism. Transport emissions across the UK are still far too high; we need to invest in reducing them through cheap and efficient public transport.

“Instead of forcing an unnecessary new runway, we could connect cities across the UK with cheap and effective high-speed rail, cutting the cost of commutes and our national carbon emissions, whilst also funding regional-rail expansion, restoring rail connectivity to communities across Scotland.

"Scotland desperately needs investment in new transport initiatives to make commuting cheaper and more efficient. That must come from every level of government, but that won’t happen whilst billions are poured into the pockets of London Airport executives.

“It’s time for real change in Scotland, not more of the same from Starmer and Reeves.”