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Government urged to push ahead with Heathrow expansion

The government is being urged to show it is committed to expanding Heathrow and allay concerns that the project will fall foul of political instability.

Andrew Adonis, chair of Britain’s National Infrastructure Commission, said it was “essential” to push ahead with the third runway project as soon as possible.

Prime minister Theresa May approved Heathrow expansion in October but it was not mentioned when the government set out its legislative programme in last week’s Queen’s Speech. Instead officials said there would be a vote at some time in the current parliament.

Lord Adonis urged her to timetable that vote as soon as possible — with next May the earliest point — to send out a positive signal to business.

“In the context of Brexit and a minority government, proceeding with Heathrow is absolutely critical to show that Britain is open for business,” he told the Financial Times. “It’s essential that a decision is taken as soon as possible.”

The peer said this would be the first big decision and the “acid test” of the government’s commitment to infrastructure investment.

Lord Adonis will say in a speech on today there should be no “delay or prevarication” on projects such as the Heathrow third runway and Crossrail 2.

“With a minority government, business is looking to parliament for decisive action on key national projects . . . tens of thousands of jobs are at stake.”

The calculations about political support for Heathrow have changed now that May does not have a majority in the House of Commons.

Lord Adonis, a Labour party former transport secretary was hired by former chancellor George Osborne to run the newly formed commission.

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