Heathrow hilarity
James Forsyth 11:44pm
The contortions that Labour and its supporters are going through over the third runway at Heathrow are increasingly comic. The attraction of backing a third runway was all political to Brown central. It hoped that it would show Labour as pro-business, prepared to take the ‘tough decisions’ that the Tories duck and, above all, split the Tories between the greens and the ‘pro-business’ wing.
But this has all blown up in Brown’s face which, perhaps, was why he was reportedly so emotional as he tried to persuade Labour rebels to back the measure. It failed to factor in that those who oppose the third runway do so with such ferocity that it is one of the key things that will determine their vote. Those MPs whose constituents will feel the effect of the extra flights had to vote against it or risk losing a large number of votes, 4 Labour MPs with West London seats did so, contributing to the largest Labour rebellion on an opposition day vote since 1997. Meanwhile, the Tories have been—at least publicly—united in their opposition.
The first piece of comedy was Martin Linton, who represents the hyper-marginal London seat of Battersea, claiming that he had meant to vote against the runway but gone into the wrong voting lobby. Now, comes a piece on LabourList by Dan McCurry making the implicit argument that the beneficiaries of a third runway not being built would be the BNP. As they say in the trade, you really couldn’t make it up.
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THX1138
January 30th, 2009 12:37am Report this commentTories don't look good on this either.
During the debate Theresa Villiers, the Shadow Transport Secretary attempt to embarrass Labour during the debate backfired when Ms Villiers said during the opening exchanges: “We don’t rule out additional South East airport expansion.” Later, she added: “Nor are we against flying.
Doesn't really square this with the original environmental policy proposals in the Tories Quality of Life report, which recommended a halt to all airport expansion.
As they say in the trade, you really couldn’t make it up.
J H Holloway
January 30th, 2009 2:07am Report this commentOn the day of the 2005 election Linton's assistant rang me up and asked if I'd voted for him.
I said 'no chance'.
She asked why.
I said 'the congestion charge'. She said 'can I put that down as transport?'.
I said 'No. Put it down as the congestion charge'.
He's a gonner in 2010.
Aless
January 30th, 2009 7:53am Report this commentThat BNP article is one of the funniest I've ever read.
I'm more worried that unemployment makes people vote Labour
Summer
January 30th, 2009 8:54am Report this commentI'd have thought that one of the beneficiaries of Labour's stance WILL BE the BNP.
THX1138 - and your point against the Tories is? I'm very pleased to hear they are not 'against flying' - the whole idea is nothing but a medieval witch hunt in support of the green religious cult.
The Conservatives intentd to invest more in high speed trains. But, it is obviously sensible not to rule out airport expansion in the country incase we need 1) to grow our economy to deal with the debt and lower living standards Labour has given us 2) deal with our bosses in Europe Labour have saddle us with.
But hopefully the Conservatives will look at transport in a holistic way - not out of party political interest in a manner that harms more (environment, people, business, economic growth) than it benefits.
THX1138
January 30th, 2009 10:05am Report this commentHi Summer -My point against the Tories is one minute they are saying we should halt all airport expansion to meet are CO2 targets and the next they are for increased expansion at other South East airports.
I agree with you and appluad the Tories decision to build a new high speed rail link to Manchester (if they stick to it) It's a ridiculous situation that the most popular destination from Heathrow is Manchester, put those internal short haul passengers on high speed trains like they do in France & Japan and we won't need a third runway at Heathrow.
Looks like the Tories have picked up another voter apart from mine based on their (or so I thought) stance against airport expansion - George Monbiot.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/15/heathrow-third-runway-labour
He now has a blog & it's drawing more comments than this far flung corner of of the wingnutosphere could ever dream of.
TrevorsDen
January 30th, 2009 10:49am Report this commentTHX - you're desperate - may be deluded.
Of course the Tories are not against flying - of course the Tories are not against airport expansion - at the right time, in the right place.
What the Tories are against is Heathrow. The wrong airport in the wrong place at the wrong time.
An airport in the Thames estuary while there is still time is the way forward. (Japan and Hong Kong have shown the way ) meantime Heathrow and other local and regional airports can cope. 'There is a recession on stupid'.
With a new airport on BorisIsland, I myself would close Heathrow completely, but may be one runway for small commuter aircraft would fit in with whatever techno development could replace the airport.
Whatever happens to an estuary proposal we should NOT build the 3rd runway untill ALL other options are explored. We should certainly not build a runway just to suit Brownian political expediency.
Never forget rule one in politics - If Brown has a clever idea - its rubbish.
Sam Armstrong
January 30th, 2009 11:09am Report this commentAren't most Heathrow employees and local residents Asian? Hardly likely to turn to BNP.
DW
January 30th, 2009 11:42am Report this commentJH Holloway - I agree. I am in his constituency too.
What does he think he is doing? He can't work out how to cast his vote after 8 (?) years in the job? Or doesn't he have principles, or conviction, or does he think we are all so stupid not to know what he's up to to save his leader that he attempts to spin his way out of it. This sums up the style of politics that Labour has foisted on us over the years.
However, roll on the General Election and rest assured that Linton's constituents will know how to cast their vote, and there will be no spinning the result.
THX1138
January 30th, 2009 12:08pm Report this commentTrevorsDen No I'm not. I"didn't say the Tories were against flying, I just pointed out that the Quality of Life report recommended a halt to all airport expansion and now they appear to favour more airport expansion in the South East except for LHR.
As I have posted before I'm voting Tory for the first time thanks to Dave's policy on high speed rail, against LHR expansion & ID cards.
Boris does seem to be at odds with official Tory policy on the Thames Estuary airport. Theresa Villiers said last night it was not on the radar.
If Dave back peddles on Heathrow expansion many people in LDN and the South East are going to feel badly betrayed, it's a very big issue.
Verity
January 30th, 2009 2:03pm Report this commentTrevorsDen - Singapore was the first. The Hongkies built their new airport around 25 years later. Credit where it's due.
Dan McCurry
February 7th, 2009 11:45pm Report this commentThanks for the plug!
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