Burnham’s opposition to Heathrow expansion puts third runway in doubt
New prime minister has been a longstanding critic of the project
Andy Burnham has plunged the plan for a third runway at Heathrow into doubt by privately telling MPs he has always opposed the project, and the new prime minister is said to be “open minded” about whether it should go ahead.
Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour administration announced in early 2025 it was supporting Heathrow’s proposal for expansion, which has to go through complex planning processes before construction can begin.
One Labour MP said Burnham had been highly critical of the scheme in a recent private meeting with colleagues. “He said he’s never been in favour of Heathrow expansion, but he’s not indicated one way or another what he will do now,” they said.
“He’s indicated that in the past he has never supported Heathrow’s expansion . . . I get the impression that he’s now waiting for a report into the third runway by the transport committee before saying more on this.”
One official said Burnham’s mind was open. “I don’t think he has a firm opinion and is listening to MPs and other groups in the meantime.”
Burnham’s prevarication over Heathrow is the latest twist in a saga which has seen political support for the project ebb and flow over the last two decades.
After being paused by Heathrow’s own management team, the project was resurrected last year by Rachel Reeves, then chancellor of the exchequer, as a way of boosting economic growth.
Her successor John Healey recently told MPs that the government gave the go-ahead to the project in January 2025 because “the economic case stacks up and will help bring growth”.
But officials said that did not mean the project had a green light from the new administration.
Executives at the airport are keenly aware that Burnham has not given a public view on the third runway since taking office in July and are hoping for a mention of it in next month’s Budget.
The prime minister has previously been a vociferous critic of the Heathrow expansion.
As mayor of Greater Manchester, he said last year that the project “diverts infrastructure investment away from the North and traps it in London and the South East”. He added it was “a model for an ever-overheating UK economy, rather than a more balanced, levelled-up economy, which is what we would argue for”.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “The prime minister is looking for projects that move Britain forward — creating jobs, driving growth and backing businesses without costing taxpayers. Heathrow expansion is ready to do exactly that.”
Despite the opposition of multiple London MPs, parts of the Labour Party including some trade unions are staunch supporters of the scheme.
Dame Siobhain McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden in south London, said the project was “good for the country, good for jobs and apprenticeships and good for local people”. She added: “The debate over Heathrow expansion has been going on for far too long; the time has come to simply get on and build the third runway.”
The Department for Transport published a draft “Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement” (HENPS) in June setting out its case for increased capacity at the airport and the requirements the scheme must meet to apply for development consent. The government simultaneously launched a consultation into the project.
The Transport Select Committee is carrying out scrutiny of the revised HENPS ahead of the government seeking parliamentary approval for the document.
One Labour MP with a London constituency said they thought the politics of Heathrow expansion had changed since Burnham entered Downing Street.
“When you think about the extra emissions that would be created by allowing more drilling in the North Sea, the PM has a balancing act between Heathrow expansion and allowing the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields in the North Sea,” they said.
“I feel like it’s not politically possible to go ahead with all three, given the strict limits on emissions in the carbon budgets governing this country.”
The independent Climate Change Committee last week warned that Heathrow expansion was incompatible with the government’s own climate targets, and that it would produce as much CO₂ as the city of Birmingham.
Airlines including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have also warned about the high costs of the project, which they fear will be passed on to passengers through higher charges. They argue this would ultimately make the airport less attractive compared with rivals such as Schiphol in Amsterdam.
They also fear the project, which involves moving part of the M25, will face cost overruns beyond the £33bn price tag estimated by Heathrow.
London mayor Lord Sadiq Khan this month released a formal response to the government’s consultation, criticising the potential impact of the scheme on air quality, noise pollution, the environment and other transport networks.
