Murnaghan Interview with Louise Ellman, MP, Chair of the Transport Select Committee, 6.12.15

ANY QUOTES USED MUST BE ATTRIBUTED TO MURNAGHAN, SKY NEWS

DERMOT MURNAGHAN: Well now, a decision about expanding Heathrow Airport is expected this week with pressure mounting on the Prime Minister.  It’s reported this morning that a number of senior Conservatives could resign if a third runway there gets the go ahead.  Well I’m joined now by the Chair of the Transport Select Committee, Louise Ellman, she’s in Liverpool and a very good morning to you.  What is your sense about whether or not we get a definite decision this week?  

LOUISE ELLMAN: Well we’ve been told there will be a decision before the Christmas break so that doesn’t give it very much longer but there is growing feeling on all sides that a decision must be given, we have been prevaricating on this issue for far too long.  Heathrow expansion is the right answer, it’s essential a decision is taken, it will be at least a decade before that becomes a reality and if we delay any longer it doesn’t mean we stand still, it means we continue to lose routes to other European hubs and to places like Dubai, it means a lot of jobs and a weakening of our economic prospects for the future so a decision does have to be taken.      

DM: But what do you read into these reports that the Prime Minister doesn’t want to cause too much trouble within his party and the senior ranks of his party, the likes of Zac Goldsmith saying he would resign as an MP if it was given the go-ahead and we all know Boris Johnson’s view about it.   

LOUISE ELLMAN: Well this has always been a difficult decision to take and there have always been members of parliament with legitimate local concerns particularly about the possible environmental impact of expansion on the people they represent but there is also a national interest and the recommendation that’s come from the Davies Commission does look at how to address the environmental concerns.  I think these issues will remain for however long any government wants to prevaricate but all the considerations now have been given, the Commission has deliberated, all the concerns have been looked at and a recommendation has been given.  It really is time for decision making.  

DM: Okay, you say that but given all the wrangling and all the politics that’s involved in all this, doesn’t that in a way strengthen Gatwick’s hand where Gatwick said yes of course, there is concern and opposition to a second runway there but we could get on with it much more quickly than Heathrow.

LOUISE ELLMAN: There will always be arguments about whichever site is chosen but the Davies Commission has looked at all the available evidence and it has come to its decision.  That chimes with the views of many people and the majority of local authorities, most businesses and there is a general concern that a decision is taken that Heathrow is the right answer but whatever the answer is, I think it is important that a decision is taken, delay means a lot of jobs and weakening the future economic prospects.    

DM: So you have total faith in Davies.  There are those who said after that that he didn’t really, particularly on the environmental issues, that those need looking at again and the issue of night flying as well.  

LOUISE ELLMAN: Well the cross-party Transport Select Committee looked at this two years ago and we commissioned our own independent research and we came to the same conclusion.  The Davies recommendations do include addressing night flying and in fact banning scheduled night flying, looking at a statutory noise authority and a number of other very specific measures to look at the legitimate environmental concerns.  That recommendation is part of a package looking at a new runway together with safeguards for environmental concerns and it has to be taken forward in that way, it’s a package.  

DM: And can I just ask you, is this the settled position of the Labour party, given the nature of debate in the new politics within the Labour party, is this the position of your leader?  

LOUISE ELLMAN: Well the Labour party has supported Heathrow for a long time, there now is a reconsideration and I’m very clear where I stand, we do need expansion, we do need a decision and Heathrow’s the answer.

DM: Okay, Louise Ellman, great talking to you, thank you very much indeed.  The Chair of the Transport Select Committee there.