May’s government includes several members who fiercely oppose Heathrow expansion. Theresa May faces the first big challenge to her fledgling premiership as 36 Conservative MPs, led by the former party chairman Grant Shapps, demand an urgent decision on Heathrow airport’s expansion, warning that continued delay is damaging the UK economy. The MPs, who belong to the cross-party British Infrastructure Group, write in a report that “a decision is needed, to show the new leadership’s mettle”. BIG believes that a lowered rate, by boosting the wider economy, would eventually be cost neutral for the Treasury.” It says: “This report concludes that the government must select the new hub as a matter of extreme urgency.

Source: The Guardian July 23, 2016 19:13 UTC