A bigger Heathrow is enthusiastically supported by chancellor Rachel Reeves
Plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport have failed to receive the personal backing of Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband, who previously opposed the expansion. While Chancellor Rachel Reeves has expressed enthusiastic support for a bigger Heathrow as part of her push for economic growth, Mr Miliband remained non-committal, emphasising that the project must meet strict climate change targets and environmental standards.
Speaking on BBC Radio, Mr Miliband reiterated that any expansion plans must align with the UK’s legally-binding carbon budgets and would face significant scrutiny before a final decision is made.
Miliband stays cautious on Heathrow expansion
Mr Miliband, appearing on the morning media rounds for the Government, was repeatedly pressed on whether he personally backed the project but avoided offering a direct endorsement.
“I abide by collective responsibility,” he told BBC Radio.
“The Government has got a position which is to invite a proposal from Heathrow for a third runway. It will have to meet carbon budgets, it will have to meet local environmental standards and, in the coming years—and it’s some years off—a decision will be made about whether to grant that Heathrow third runway.”
Pressed further on BBC Breakfast about whether he supported the plans, Mr Miliband said:
“I’m part of a Government that has that position. I was part of the decision-making process, and the decision is as Rachel Reeves set it out—that’s the collective decision of the Government.”
His response highlights ongoing divisions within Sir Keir Starmer’s Government, with some ministers appearing reluctant to fully back a project that remains highly controversial among environmentalists, local residents, and political opponents.
Rachel reeves changes stance on airport expansion
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the MP for Leeds West, has taken a markedly different approach, arguing that advances in sustainable aviation fuel now justify expanding the UK’s busiest airport.
Her position, however, has been met with criticism from environmental groups and academics, who argue that sustainable aviation fuels are still in their infancy and cannot yet provide a viable low-carbon alternative for widespread commercial use.
Notably, Ms Reeves had previously opposed airport expansion at Leeds Bradford Airport but has since reversed her stance in light of her economic growth agenda.
Labour ministers’ changing views on Heathrow expansion
The Labour leadership’s shift on Heathrow expansion has been particularly striking, given that many senior ministers, including Sir Keir Starmer, Ed Miliband, Environment Secretary Steve Reed, and Treasury Minister Darren Jones, were among more than a dozen Labour MPs who opposed a third runway when the Tories pushed the project through Parliament in 2018.
At the time, opposition to the plan was largely based on environmental concerns, but Ms Reeves has since argued that the economic benefits of a bigger Heathrow outweigh the environmental impact.
The Chancellor has claimed that expansion will boost Britain’s economy, particularly following the Bank of England’s downward revision of its UK growth forecast for 2025.
Economic growth vs environmental concerns
While Ms Reeves has positioned Heathrow’s expansion as a key driver of economic growth, she has also faced accusations of undermining businesses through her £25 billion National Insurance hike on employers, announced in the autumn Budget.
The Budget, which included £40 billion in tax rises and an additional £30 billion in borrowing, aims to inject around £70 billion into public services, including the NHS, but has sparked concerns from business leaders about its potential impact on investment and employment.
More Read
With Labour’s Commons majority of over 160 seats, any Heathrow expansion plans would easily pass through Parliament. However, the project is expected to face major legal challenges from environmental activists, local councils, and potentially London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who remains firmly opposed to the airport’s growth.
Legal and political challenges ahead
Despite the Government’s push for expansion, environmental groups and local authorities are preparing to challenge the third runway in court, citing concerns over carbon emissions, air pollution, and noise levels for nearby residents.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has consistently opposed Heathrow’s expansion, is expected to continue fighting against the project, aligning with green campaigners and local councils in West London that argue the plans are incompatible with the UK’s net-zero targets.
For now, the future of Heathrow’s third runway remains uncertain. While Rachel Reeves and economic strategists push for expansion as a growth-boosting measure, opposition from environmentalists, legal experts, and some Government ministers suggests that the battle over Heathrow’s future is far from over.
With Ed Miliband refusing to offer his personal backing, it remains clear that any decision on a bigger Heathrow is still years away—and will likely be settled in the courts as much as in Parliament.
