The head of a pro-Heathrow expansion group’s role in developing Labour policy has been attacked by green groups, amid speculation the government could back a third runway at the airport.
Parmjit Dhanda, the executive director of pro-third runway campaign group Back Heathrow, sits on the National Policy Forum – the body that is responsible for developing Labour’s policy offering in key areas.
He is also taking part in the forum’s commission on kickstarting economic growth, which is chaired by and advising Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Ami McCarthy, Greenpeace’s head of UK politics, told Sky News there was concern the chancellor was “getting her facts about airport expansion from the Heathrow lobbyists in her own party”.
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Ms McCarthy said: “Instead of picking up any old polluting project from the discard pile, the chancellor should invest in the green industries that can attract investment and bring economic and social benefits for years to come, like secure jobs, affordable energy bills and cheaper, better transport.”
Mike Childs, Friends of the Earth’s head of policy, added: “Proponents of Heathrow expansion are in many influential positions within the Labour Party, which is why it’s crucial that Rachel Reeves listens to independent climate experts before reaching a decision.”
Mr Dhanda, a former Labour minister and the MP for Gloucester from 2001 to 2010, rejected the criticism and said he was on the NPF because of his “policy experience and knowledge”.
He added that he was elected to the forum rather than appointed by anyone in the party.
Mr Dhanda told Sky News: “These constituencies elect people on to the National Policy Forum from a range of skills and a range of backgrounds, including me – and it’s good to have people with policy experience and knowledge on the national policy forum.
“If people think that I’ve been using my position on the commission to influence Rachel Reeves or anybody else, they’d be wrong.”
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It comes amid speculation that Ms Reeves will use a major speech on Wednesday to confirm the government would support the expansion of Heathrow to include a third runway, should the airport submit a full planning application – which it has yet to do.
While the chancellor has not directly commented on the “speculation” around Heathrow, she has emphasised that growth is the UK’s number one priority and has indicated she would be prepared to back infrastructure projects even if they were unpopular.
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A Labour Party source said the NPF was made up of about 200 elected representatives from across the country, including trade unions, delegates from local constituency parties and elected representatives.
They said the kickstart economic growth commission, which started in November, was a party endeavour and not connected to the Treasury.
It has only met once and the chancellor did not attend the meeting, according to the source, who also told Sky News that the chancellor had not knowingly met Mr Dhanda and that he did not donate to the party.
Heathrow wants to build a third runway to the north-west of its existing two, which it says would enable an additional 260,000 flights per year and “allow Britain as a sovereign nation to compete more effectively for trade”.
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Its plans also include a new terminal building to the west of Terminal 5 and the eventual demolition of Terminal 3 to make way for a series of new satellite terminals and more public transport.
Despite construction receiving parliamentary approval in 2018, the plans have been delayed by legal challenges and the coronavirus pandemic.
Back Heathrow says on its website that it is a group of residents, businesses and community groups “who have come together to defend the jobs that rely on Heathrow and to campaign for its secure future”.
Last week it signed a letter along with more than 100 other businesses arguing that Heathrow expansion would help “to boost UK trade, improve living standards and accelerate the growth mission”.
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It claimed expansion could be done “responsibly”, adding: “The airport has always been clear that it will only expand in line with strict tests on carbon, noise and air quality.
“There does not need to be a choice between growth and the environment – it can and must deliver for both.”
Any potential move Ms Reeves makes to signal her approval for Heathrow risks putting her on a collision course with some of her cabinet colleagues, including Energy Secretary Ed Miliband who is vocally opposed to a third runway.
On Monday, Mr Miliband – who has said he will not resign in the event the government does back the Heathrow expansion – warned that the project would not go ahead if it did not meet the UK’s emissions targets.
