Chancellor John Healey backs Heathrow third runway despite Prime Minister hesitation

Chancellor John Healey has said building a third runway at Heathrow Airport has always been a case for growth. Speaking from International Monetary Fund meetings in Bangkok, Healey highlighted airport expansion as a major factor for jobs and economic growth over recent decades, BBC News and The Guardian reported. His comments come after Prime Minister Andy Burnham refused to state whether he supported the project, telling the BBC that the expansion was a matter for London and Londoners. [1][2][3][4][5][6]

The statements expose a divide within the government over the long-planned infrastructure project. The Guardian reported that the government intends to study responses to a public consultation regarding the expansion. Healey noted that his predecessor as chancellor, Rachel Reeves, had previously placed the approval of the third runway at the center of her economic strategy, describing it as vital for making Britain competitive for global business. [1][2][4][5]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander previously voiced support for the 33 billion pound third runway during an address to AirportsUK. Internal debate within the Labour party has grown regarding whether Prime Minister Burnham will ultimately endorse the expansion plans. [11]

Heathrow Airport is the primary and largest international airport serving London and the United Kingdom. Located in the London Borough of Hillingdon roughly 14 miles west of central London, the airport currently operates using two parallel east-west runways serving four passenger terminals and a large cargo operation. [7][8][10]