Grant Shapps spearheads first back bench revolt against PM over Heathrow indecision
Thirty-six Conservative MPs have signed the letter to Theresa May demanding she make an immediate decision
THERESA May was last night facing a backbench backlash over damaging multi-billion pound delays on airport expansion.
Thirty-six Tory MPs have backed a report urging her to make an immediate decision on Heathrow or Gatwick.
Costs of postponing it are up to £2.45billion a year at Heathrow alone.
Businesses say a quick verdict will ensure a new runway by 2030.
Grant Shapps, who chairs the British Infrastructure Group which commissioned the report, last night said: “This is a decision that has been delayed for far too long.
“Everyone acknowledges we need more airport capacity but indecision is costing the economy dear.
“In this post-Brexit world expanding our airports is more urgent than ever. Our new PM can stamp her authority by making this decision quickly.”
“Making early decisions on Heathrow and regional airport expansion will send the clearest signal yet that Britain isn’t only open for business but growing.”
The former Minister said: “Wherever it’s going to go, for heaven’s sake, just get on with it.”
There is also a call in the report to reduce the Airport Passenger Duty levy on flights costs which is “crippling our ability to trade” and “reach our national ambition of doubling exports by 2020”.
The call for an urgent verdict on airports comes after a government-commissioned report released last year recommended a third runway at Heathrow.
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However, heavy hitters in the new May Cabinet including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Education Secretary Justine Greening are Heathrow critics.
A spokesman for Heathrow last night said: “The future economic security of this country depends on us being an outward looking trading nation and as the UK only hub airport, it’s Heathrow that’s the UK’s gateway to long-haul global markets.”
