Are The Conservatives Really Opposed To Stansted Expansion?

10.44.00pm GMT Fri 6th Feb 2009

In a January House of Commons debate on a third runway at Heathrow Airport, Tory Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers MP said that the Conservative Party is not necessarily against airport expansion in the south-east. In a letter to local newspapers, Stansted South Lib Dem District Councillor Alan Dean asked "Does the Conservative Party hold to any firm principles over aviation emission and climate change? If it is mindful to consider airport expansion that is not at Heathrow, where will it be? "

"Those of us around Stansted have a right to expect clarification from a party that aspires to government and to be assured that its policy is more than skin deep and not just expedient, depending on which extra runway is in the news at any one time."

The Liberal Democrats rule out airport expansion in the south-east. We need investment in a high-speed rail network, not further money wasted on the fastest-growing source of pollution.

In the same debate, Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker said "The hon. Gentleman is quite right. While we are talking about Gatwick, let me make it absolutely clear that we Liberal Democrat Members are totally opposed to any further expansion of airport capacity in the south-east, and in the term "south-east" I include Gatwick, Stansted and Heathrow."

Related Link:

Conservative Transport spokeswoman Theresa Villiers MP speaking in the House of Commons: "We do not rule out the possibility of airport expansion in the south-east"