Government says new transport minister ‘will be fair on Heathrow'
18.10.11
The Government has rejected concerns the transport secretary will not treat aviation fairly, because she previously campaigned against Heathrow expansion. Justine Greening was promoted to the new role on Friday, but her constituency is under Heathrow's flight path and she campaigned against a third runway. Willie Walsh, boss of British Airways' owner IAG, raised concerns about a conflict of interest at the weekend, but the department said she would carry out her duties ‘fairly and responsibly’.
The coalition blocked Labour's plans for a third runway at Heathrow days after coming to power in 2010 - and said it would also refuse any additional runways at Gatwick and Stansted too, at least for the duration of the current parliament.
The third runway plan was unpopular with those living under Heathrow's flight path - many of whom are in Miss Greening's Putney constituency. She greeted the decision to scrap it by saying it was ‘really fantastic news’.
However, when asked whether it had concerns about Ms Greening's appointment, a spokesman for Heathrow's operator BAA said: ‘We understand the difference between campaigning as a constituency MP and taking decisions in the national interest as a minister. We had a number of constructive meetings with Justine Greening on Air Passenger Duty when she was at the Treasury and we trust we will receive a fair hearing from her as Secretary of State for Transport.’
A spokesman for the Department of Transport added: ‘There are transport considerations in every constituency but these do not prevent ministers from carrying out their duties fairly and responsibly.’
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