The most high-profile cabinet critics of a third runway at Heathrow – Boris Johnson and Justine Greening – will be “unavoidably away” when the Commons votes on the issue. A Whitehall document leaked last month suggests Theresa May could hold a free vote, potentially allowing some ministers to oppose a third runway. However, it is understood that the cabinet, at least, is more likely to be instructed to vote in support of the government’s position. Johnson, the foreign secretary, and Greening, the education secretary, will quietly be given leave to miss the vote. Independent research was published last week suggesting that Heathrow could build a new runway without breaching pollution laws.

Source: The Guardian October 08, 2016 19:07 UTC