Exclusive:
Chancellor Rachel Reeves refused to comment on ‘speculation’ about a third runway at Heathrow – but pointed to the fact the Government backed expanding Stansted and City Airports
Rachel Reeves has hinted at her support for expansion of Heathrow Airport, saying travel is “really important” to Brits.
The Chancellor set hares running when she told an audience in Davos that the “answer can’t always be ‘no’” on big projects. Speculation has been mounting that she’ll use a major speech on growth next week to announce her backing for a new runway at the west London airport.
Labour supported the idea in its 2010 manifesto but the-then leader Ed Miliband distanced himself from it, and later revealed he had rowed with his predecessor Gordon Brown over it.
A number of top ministers have previously opposed a third runway at the UK’s largest airport, including Keir Starmer. But the PM dodged questions on his stance earlier this week.
Ms Reeves declined to comment on “speculation” but pointed to the fact the Government has signed off on expansion at Stansted and City Airports. She told the Sunday Mirror: “I know that travel is really important to Brits, whether it is going on the summer holiday – and looking out the window at the moment, I think most people are looking forward to that.
“I know that’s really important to people but also for our economy, we need investment, we need trade, and that means getting things in and out of the country.
“Whether that is business people coming into the UK to have meetings and to make those investment decisions, or whether it’s great British businesses selling stuff around the world that has to go on an airplane to get there.
BLUESKY: Follow our Mirror Politics account on Bluesky here. And follow our Mirror Politics team here – Lizzy Buchan, Jason Beattie, Kevin Maguire, Sophie Huskisson, Dave Burke, Ashley Cowburn, Mikey Smith
POLITICS WHATSAPP: Be first to get the biggest bombshells and breaking news by joining our Politics WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you want to leave our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
NEWSLETTER: Or sign up here to the Mirror’s Politics newsletter for all the best exclusives and opinions straight to your inbox.
PODCAST: And listen to our exciting new political podcast The Division Bell, hosted by the Mirror and the Express every Thursday.
“Trade is really important for us as a country, we are an open trading economy and so travel and getting stuff to market is really important.”
Ms Reeves rejected criticism that she was selling out the environment in pursuit of growth. “These two things go hand in hand,” she said, pointing to investment in clean energy projects, such as carbon capture and storage in Merseyside and Teesside.
She said: “Investing in clean energy is patriotic for this country and it’s good for jobs in this country. I don’t see tackling climate stuff and growing our economy as two separate things. There are massive opportunities.”