Reeves says growth ‘trumps’ net zero as Heathrow runway decision looms

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves says the pursuit of growth “trumps” the government’s net zero pledge, as she prepares signal his support For the expansion of airports in the London region, including Heathrow.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Reeves He said: “When we say growth is the number one mission of this government, we mean it. That means it trumps other things.”

Reeves will signal in a speech next week that the government favors expansion of Gatwick and Luton airports, while reaffirming his support for a third runway at Heathrow.

The Heathrow expansion was previously opposed by Sir Keir Starmer and several senior Labor figures, and the issue is likely to cause a split in the Cabinet.

A decision on whether to approve the proposal would force the government to choose between supporting “growth” and the stated objective of reducing the UK’s carbon emissions.

Some Whitehall officials believe Reeves, a supporter of Heathrow expansion, is trying to bounce Starmer into publicly approving a third runway. An ally of the Prime Minister said, “This is not my assessment.”

Asked about the issue in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Starmer declined to comment on “speculation”, adding: “As a government we are committed to growth. We are committed to the aviation sector and our climate responsibility.”

In theory, Reeves reiterating his support for Heathrow’s third runway could be the political signal the airport’s management needs before it decides to proceed with proposals later this year.

In the last House of Commons vote on a third runway at Heathrow in 2018, seven members of the current cabinet, including Starmer, voted against it. The others were Ed Miliband, Steve Reid, Lisa Nandy, Darren Jones, Annelise Dodds and Hilary Benn.

But Heathrow management is reluctant to revive the scheme without clear political backing. Miliband, who is now climate change secretary, threatened to quit over the issue during Gordon Brown’s government, while London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan is also still opposed.

A spokesman for Khan said this week: “The Mayor has long-standing opposition to airport expansion around London – linked to negative impacts on air quality, noise and London’s ability to reach net zero by 2030.”

Critics argue that a huge expansion of aviation is incompatible with the UK’s legally mandated goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions, since aviation is one of the hardest industries to decarbonise – despite growing hopes to use “sustainable aviation fuels”.

Downing Street said this week that Heathrow still needed a third runway to meet the four tests of carbon emissions, noise, air quality and growth. Local noise and air pollution issues are considered by experts to be the most difficult to address at the congested west London site.