Chancellor Healey backs Heathrow third runway, breaking with Burnham

Chancellor John Healey has publicly backed building a third runway at Heathrow Airport, openly diverging from Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s refusal to support the scheme. Reuters

Speaking to reporters on Friday at the International Monetary Fund’s annual meeting in Bangkok, Mr Healey said the scheme fitted the government’s central aim of strengthening the economy: “The case for a third runway at Heathrow has always been a case for growth.” Reuters

The backing contrasts with Mr Burnham’s stance: three weeks ago the prime minister declined to support the project, telling the BBC it was “a matter for London and Londoners” and that “we ought to hear the voice of people there first”. Reuters / BBC

It is also a shift from the previous government, under which then-chancellor Rachel Reeves made the expansion a centrepiece of her argument that Britain is open for business, saying “a third runway is badly needed” and that ministers could not “duck the decision any longer”. BBC

Heathrow’s chief executive Thomas Woldbye has warned that failing to build the runway would be a “huge missed opportunity”. BBC

Heathrow puts the runway’s cost at about £33bn, roughly £49bn with associated works, and says a third runway could support 100,000 new jobs. Sky News The target opening has slipped from 2035 to 2039, four years behind the initial plan. Reuters The Department for Transport says it is “considering the appropriate next steps” after the consultation on its National Policy Statement closed. BBC

Sources

• Reuters (first-hand): https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-finance-minister-says-heathrow-expansion-would-boost-growth-2026-10-16/
• BBC (via mirror): https://www.shango.media/bbc-third-runway-at-heathrow-airport-would-drive-growth-healey-says-11955386
• Sky News (via syndication): https://www.manxradio.com/news/uk-business/heathrow-expansion-would-boost-growth-chancellor-says/