A Commons motion calling for Heathrow’s third runway to be scrapped has been signed by 10 backbenchers, and concern over expansion at the busy airport is also shared by one Cabinet member, at least.

To date, one junior minister, Ann Keen, representing a constituency in west London constituency, has made public her opposition to expansion at Heathrow.

Other Labour MPs, who have not yet gone public, share her concerns about increasing air traffic at Heathrow and are expected to also sign the motion.

Geoff Hoon, the Transport Secretary, is not expected to announce a decision on the runway until later this year, but his previous comments have indicated that he will likely support the plan.

The Tories and Liberal Democrats are both firmly opposed to the construction of a third runway, and doubts are growing as to whether a majority of MPs will back the expansion plan.

The Commons motion that calls for a reconsideration of the government’s plan has been tabled by the Labour MP for Selby, John Grogan. Other than the Labour support, Theresa Villiers and Norman Baker, the Tory and Liberal Democrat transport spokespersons have also supported the motion.

The motion says that the government’s expansion plan is “deeply flawed,” failing to take into consider the air and noise pollution that would result. It also notes that a high-speed rail option was not “fully explored” – nor was the possibility of other UK airports handling long-haul services.

www.labour.org.uk