Labour faces internal confusion over supporting Heathrow’s third runway expansion, with Treasury ministers James Murray and Dan Tomlinson backing the project despite Andy Burnham’s hesitation. Murray emphasized that expanding Britain’s busiest airport is crucial for job creation and economic investment across the country, contradicting Burnham's suggestion that it should be a decision left to London. This stance highlights disagreements within Labour as they navigate public opinion and economic benefits tied to Heathrow's expansion.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Andy Burnham, the UK Prime Minister, has declined to support plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, citing the need to consider local opinions first. The project, which was initially set to be completed by 2035, is now expected to open in 2039 due to delays and regulatory challenges. Burnham's stance contrasts with his predecessor Keir Starmer’s support for the expansion, which is projected to create at least 108,000 jobs but faces significant opposition from environmental groups and communities concerned about pollution and climate impacts. Despite these challenges, Heathrow aims to secure planning permission by 2029, after which construction could take a decade. Burnham's reluctance to endorse the project further casts doubt on its future as it faces ongoing debates in Parliament and scrutiny over compliance with UK’s legally binding climate targets.
Written for “Heathrow Third Runway Delay” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 14 other(s) covering the same event.
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Labour's position on Heathrow's third runway was mired in confusion today after Treasury ministers backed the project - despite Andy Burnham failing to support it.
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Burnham → see → it
James Murray, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said the expansion of Britain's busiest airport was 'really important' for the country's future.
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expansion → say → future
His Treasury colleague Dan Tomlinson, the growth minister, also pledged his support for the proposal.
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colleague → pledge → proposal
They both spoke after the Prime Minister cast huge doubt over Heathrow's expansion by repeatedly refusing to endorse the scheme.
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Minister → speak → scheme
In a TV interview on Sunday at the start of Labour's conference in Liverpool, Mr Burnham suggested it was a matter 'for London' and that the Government was waiting for the outcome of a consultation.
uncertain
Government → suggest → consultation
The ambivalent stance came despite Chancellor John Healey telling the House of Commons earlier this month that the Government supports the project.
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Government → come → project
The PM's equivocation sparked a sharp response from Labour's trade union allies, who pointed out Heathrow's expansion should create 100,000 jobs.
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expansion → spark → jobs
Mr Murray, whose Ealing North seat is in west London, contradicted Mr Burnham on Monday by saying it was not just an issue for the capital.
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it → contradict → capital
Labour's position on Heathrow's third runway was mired in confusion today after Treasury ministers backed the project - despite Andy Burnham failing to support it
James Murray, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said the expansion of Heathrow was 'really important' for the country's future
'
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expansion → mire → future
What the PM set out yesterday was that it's important to listen to Londoners and I know that – I'm a London MP and if I listen to my constituents, you know there are different views on it,' he told the Press Association.
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he → set → Association
'But I think we recognise that having that third runway is really important for jobs, it's really important to get that investment into Heathrow and it's actually really important for the whole country.
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it → think → country
'Because that investment in making Heathrow stronger, making our country stronger, making sure that we boost trade and making sure we get more jobs right across the country is really important for our future.'
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get → make → future
Asked why the PM could not give his full backing to the project, Mr Murray said: 'Well, he was saying that it's important to listen to what Londoners have to say and there's been a consultation.
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Londoners → ask → what
The Government's now looking at the consultation responses and will set out its response shortly.'
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Government → look → response
He added: 'I think Heathrow has a really important role to play and as an MP in west London, I know how important it is for jobs and my constituents.
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it → add → jobs
It's for the whole country and it's really important to have investment in aviation right across the country.
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it → have → country
Mr Tomlinson also pledged his support for Heathrow's third runway, telling a LabourList fringe meeting on Sunday: 'As growth minister, I think you might be all wondering what my view is on Heathrow, and I want to tell you that as a London MP who lives under the flight path, that I am very pro Heathrow expansion.'
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I → pledge → expansion
Labour's support for Heathrow's third runway was set out by former chancellor Rachel Reeves in January last year.
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support → set → January
Estimated to cost £33billion, including £1.5billion to move the M25 to build the runway, the scheme is expected to be fully privately financed.
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scheme → estimate → runway
It would see Heathrow's capacity increase to 756,000 flights and 150 million passengers per year.
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It → see → year
But Mr Burnham was unwilling to confirm that he was in favour of the project going ahead in a major interview at the start of Labour's conference.
'
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project → confirm → conference
Principally, it's a matter for London and Londoners,' he told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg when asked if he would back the move.
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he → tell → move
He diverted questions about his views, saying he would wait to hear the outcome of a consultation process on the matter.
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he → divert → matter
'It's not right for me to just jump straight in on the back of the consultation,' he said.
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he → jump → consultation
He later added: 'I think it's right that we hear what people have said through the consultation, and then consider the way forward from there.'
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people → add → way
Ms Reeves had suggested the runway could be open in 2035 but airport bosses have told ministers that timetable appears impossible to meet.
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timetable → suggest → ministers
The airport aims to get planning permission by 2029, and from that point believes building the new runway within a decade to be a reasonable goal.
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building → aim → decade
The Aporia
