Reeves hints at support for Heathrow expansion

The chancellor has hinted the authorities would enactment a 3rd runway astatine Heathrow Airport, saying "sustainable aviation and economical maturation spell manus successful hand".

Rachel Reeves told the BBC she would not remark connected "speculation" and the authorities would acceptable retired its plans successful owed course.

However, she said a 3rd runway astatine Heathrow "will mean that alternatively of circling London, flights tin land" and that sustainable substance was changing the c emissions from flying.

Reeves is expected to marque an announcement backing airdrome enlargement adjacent week, arsenic portion of large code connected plans to boost the economy.

Asked if this was apt to see Heathrow, the chancellor did not reply straight but said the authorities had already signed disconnected the enlargement of London City Airport and Stanstead.

"That volition beryllium bully for concern and commercialized successful our state and besides bully for families wanting to spell connected inexpensive holidays," she told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme.

Reeves was besides challenged implicit whether she agreed with disapproval from Labour politician of London Sadiq Khan that expanding Heathrow would person a damaging interaction connected aerial quality, sound and the capital's quality to scope nett zero.

In effect she said "a batch has changed successful presumption of aviation", with concern successful sustainable substance and electrical planes.

The chancellor added: "I judge that cleanable energy, that reducing our c emissions are bully for economical growth."