A Treasury minister has voiced strong support for a third runway at Heathrow, saying it will make the UK "stronger" by boosting jobs, economic growth and investment, just days after Andy Burnham declined to back the project. Paymaster General James Murray, whose Ealing North constituency sits in west London, told the Press Association that the expansion of the UK's busiest airport was "really important for our future."
Minister's remarks contrast with Burnham's stance
Mr Murray's comments come after the Prime Minister on Sunday refused to explicitly back the project, stating it was subject to a consultation and primarily a decision for Londoners, despite the national significance of the proposals. The minister, however, insisted the issue was not just for the capital but affected the whole country.
"What the Prime Minister 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," Mr Murray said. "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 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."
Government response to consultation pending
Asked why the Prime Minister 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. The Government's now looking at the consultation responses and will set out its response shortly."
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. But it's not just an issue for my constituents or for people in west London or even that region. It's for the whole country and it's really important to have investment in aviation right across the country. And Heathrow is a critical part of that."
Labour's policy and cost details
Labour's support for the third runway was set out by former chancellor Rachel Reeves in January 2025. Estimated to cost £33 billion, including £1.5 billion to move the M25 to build the runway, the scheme is expected to be fully privately financed. It would see Heathrow's capacity increase to 756,000 flights and 150 million passengers per year.
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. "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. He diverted questions about his views, saying he would wait to hear the outcome of a consultation process on the matter. "It's not right for me to just jump straight in on the back of the consultation," he said.
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."
Timetable for construction
Ms Reeves had suggested the runway could be open in 2035 but airport bosses have told ministers that timetable appears impossible to meet. 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.
