Cabinet poised to back third runway at Heathrow
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The Cabinet is today expected to back plans for a third runway at Heathrow.
The proposals, which have already been accepted in principle by the Government, will go before the economic sub-committee this morning, before being passed to the full Cabinet for final approval.
Details could then be laid out before Parliament by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling as early as today.
Following the statement MPs will have 21 days to vote on the plans, which could prove problematic for Theresa May who will face opposition from within her own party.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has previously said he would lie down "in front of bulldozers" to prevent a third runway being built at the airport, while dozens of other Conservative MPs oppose the expansion.
The Prime Minister is understood to be considering imposing a three-line whip on her party when a vote takes place, in the hope of averting a rebellion.
However, she is facing pressure to allow MPs a free vote, with former Cabinet Minister Justine Greening telling the Telegraph this week: “I hope that the Government honours the commitment it made previously to have a free vote.
“A lot of MPs who fundamentally believe this is a bad thing will be left with no choice but to vote against a Government whip.”
Labour’s position on the issue is that it backs expansion as long as certain conditions are met on capacity, climate change, noise, air quality and wider economic benefits.
