The Prime Minister was just a child in 1968 when expanding London airports was first suggested… much has changed, but we need it more than ever
I WAS proud to be involved last week in the momentous decision to expand Heathrow Airport.
But increasing our airport capacity isn’t a new idea.
A third airport for London to solve the capacity issue was first suggested back by the Roskill Commission in 1968, when The Beatles had just released their White Album, I was in nappies and most of the Cabinet were at primary school.
So whether or not to develop our airports has dogged governments of all colours for generations.
What has changed in those 48 years is one crucial factor — globalisation.
Britain is increasingly trading with more parts of the world and Brexit means these global links matter more than ever.
Could any serious government, when faced with 48 years of indecision and missed opportunity, now fail to decide to expand our airport capacity — a decision that will invite more businesses, further investment and more jobs?
Of course not. But that doesn’t mean it was an easy choice to make.
If it were, it would have been taken years ago.
But this is a Government that is taking the big decisions for our country.
As the Business Secretary I regularly meet people who are investing billions of pounds in the UK and creating thousands of jobs.
Without air travel, those relationships would be harder to maintain and those people I met would be reduced to names in a briefing, images on a screen and voices on a conference call.
To make the expansion a reality will take time.
There is an agreed procedure, of course, with a full and fair public consultation and a vote in Parliament.
To rush this wouldn’t just be undemocratic — it could risk legal challenges delaying everything we have worked so hard on.
There are difficult issues around expanding an airport that are being addressed.
Looking at the evidence, I am confident we can fully develop Heathrow while accounting for noise levels and air quality.
Some rightly raise the issue of climate change.
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But expanding an airport doesn’t dampen our commitment to cut carbon emissions by 80 per cent.
The world cannot stop and we, too, will not stop leading the world in cutting carbon.
We are determined to continue taking the decisions that ensure Britain has the modern infrastructure that joins us with the world and allows us to prosper and flourish in the future.
Already this year, we have given the go ahead to the new Hinkley nuclear power station and we are making sure High Speed 2 connects our country together.
In a fast-moving global economy such decisions must include airport capacity, so we have given the green light to a new Heathrow runway.
The Prime Minister has said she wants “an economy that works for everyone”.
I agree and I believe the way we get there is a through a cross-government industrial strategy.
At its core is having world-class infrastructure throughout the UK.
Heathrow expansion will boost links between London and regional airports including Manchester, Belfast and Edinburgh, giving them better access to global markets.
An industrial strategy must be long-term, building on our strengths and ensuring we have the infrastructure our country needs.
This is a Government that supports business and doesn’t duck the big decisions required to upgrade our infrastructure, our economy and our country.
Over nearly 50 years, no one was prepared to make the hard choices.
But now, with a growing economy, a renewed international outlook and a determined Government, a decision has been taken.
Britain is ready.