21st March 2012

Chancellor reveals delay in new airport expansion policy

In the Budget today Chancellor George Osborne told the House of Commons that he believed this country must confront the lack of airport capacity in the South East of England, saying: “We cannot cut ourselves off from the fastest growing cities in the world.” He added that the Transport Secretary will set out Government thinking on aviation later this summer. Two consultations on airports policy had been expected this month.

Responding to the news, Stop Stansted Expansion commented: “We are disappointed that the Government has postponed its aviation policy consultation until the end of the summer, especially when we were looking for the new policy to confirm the promise made in the 2010 coalition agreement vetoing further runways at Stansted. We are obviously concerned that the Government may be having second thoughts about its previous assurances.”

Campaigning to ensure Stansted Airport's authorised operations stay below harmful limits