Labour

Government’s dither and delay over aviation risks jobs and growth – Maria Eagle

Maria Eagle MP, Labour's Shadow Transport Secretary, responding to a new call for action from the Government on aviation, said:
 
"The Government’s continuing dither and delay over formulating a strategy for aviation is now putting jobs and growth at risk and the industry is right to be exasperated. Labour has now been warning for two years of the economic risk of failing to set out how our long term aviation needs can be met while tackling the industry’s contribution to climate change by meeting the tough emissions reduction targets to which the country is rightly committed.

"The Government must now wake up to the concerns of British businesses and end the worsening shambles and confusion of their multiple positions on aviation. It’s time to get on and publish the much delayed draft aviation strategy alongside the call for evidence which must of course enable the industry to press any case they believe is right.

"As the aviation industry and wider business community has said very clearly, we need to achieve a cross-party consensus that lasts beyond the term of one Parliament to provide certainty and ensure any policy is actually delivered. That’s why, to end the wrangling of the past few years, Labour accepted the Government's decision to cancel the proposed third runway at Heathrow and is not pressing for that position to be reversed. As a result, there is now the potential for agreement for the long term on how to address the UK's future aviation needs.

"Ministers should now listen to these growing calls for action and take up our offer to work together on a cross party basis to develop a sensible alternative to the options they have already rejected and Boris Johnson’s unworkable and unaffordable fantasy Thames Estuary proposal."