Heathrow expansion ‘won’t go ahead’ if it doesn’t meet climate targets, Ed Miliband says

Published

7 months ago

January 27, 2025

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Ed Miliband has said the expansion of Heathrow and other airports “won’t go ahead” if they don’t meet the UK’s emissions targets – putting him on a potential collision course with Rachel Reeves.

The chancellor has not commented directly on whether she would support a third runway at Heathrow, but she has indicated she would be prepared to overrule environmental objections to allow the project to go ahead.

Ms Reeves has been emphasising that growth is the UK’s number one priority and is expected to use a speech on Wednesday to support the expansion, as well as similar plans for Gatwick and Luton.

But appearing in front of the Commons Environmental Audit Committee, Mr Miliband – the cabinet minister responsible for pushing forward the government’s net zero agenda – struck a different tone to the chancellor.

He told MPs that any aviation expansion must take place within the UK’s carbon budgets, including the 2050 target to reduce emissions by 100% compared with 1990 levels.

Independent advisers on the government’s Climate Change Committee (CC) have called for no net airport expansion without a proper national plan to curb emissions from the aviation sector and manage passenger capacity.

The CCC is publishing its next carbon budget – the legal limit for UK net emissions of greenhouse gases from 2038 to 2042 – on 26 February.

The energy secretary did not say whether a potential third runway could be approved before that.

Mr Miliband, who has been a vocal opponent of Heathrow expansion in the past, told MPs: “I just want to sort of provide this element of reassurance to you, which is 100% any aviation expansion must be justified within carbon budgets, and if it can’t be justified, it won’t go ahead.”

His comments put him at odds with Ms Reeves, who told Sky News at the World Economic Forum in Davos, that she would back infrastructure projects even where they are unpopular.

Asked directly if she would now put the runway, along with expansion at Gatwick and Luton ahead of the UK’s net zero commitments, Ms Reeves said: “I’m not going to comment on speculation, but what I would say is when the last government faced difficult decisions about whether to support infrastructure investment, the answer always seemed to be no.

“We can’t carry on like that, because if we do, we will miss out on crucial investment here into Britain. You’ve already seen a number of decisions, including on Stansted and City Airport, on energy projects, on transport infrastructure, because we are determined to grow the economy.”

On Monday evening Ms Reeves addressed a meeting of the Labour Parliamentary Party (PLP) to push the case for growth – but did not mention Heathrow specifically.

She told Labour MPs her speech on Wednesday would be about “economic growth built on the platform of stability”, adding there were “no easy routes out”.

She said: “There are always reasons for government to say no.

“Over the past six months as chancellor, my experience is that government has become used to saying no. That must change. We must start saying yes.”

A spokesman for the chancellor said there had been “overwhelming support” for her as she addressed the PLP and that Ruth Cadbury, the chair of the Transport Select Committee, was the only dissenting voice.

They said Ms Reeves declined to comment on speculation about an announcement regarding the runway.

He said: “There was overwhelming support for what Rachel had to say, overwhelming support for the need to build infrastructure, overwhelming support for the government’s agenda to reform the planning system.”

Last week Mr Miliband ruled out resigning from the government if it gives the third runway the go-ahead.

Heathrow has not yet submitted a full application for a third runway – something it has been pushing for several years.

Despite construction receiving parliamentary approval in 2018, the plans have been delayed by legal challenges and the coronavirus pandemic.

One Labour MP in London told Sky News they would only support Heathrow expansion if it met the tests Labour outlined in its manifesto around air quality, noise pollution, climate change obligations and countrywide benefits.

“Heathrow have to put their money where their mouth is and present the evidence,” they said.

UK

Reform took advantage of the PM’s holiday – and it’s clear he’s now changed strategy

Published

3 hours ago

September 2, 2025

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Reform took advantage of the PM's holiday - and it's clear he's now changed strategy

Immigration was the first thing on the government’s agenda to kick off the first week back from recess, and they wanted you to know it.

The home secretary gave an update to the House, announcing a shakeup of family reunion rules for asylum seekers, even before some backbenchers had made it back to parliament from their break.

Facing criticism for being on the back foot after a summer of protest outside asylum hotels, they were keen to defend their record and get back on track – but is it too late?

It’s a clear nod to the political void Reform UK has seized on while the prime minister has been on holiday.

Last week, Nigel Farage unveiled his party’s mass deportation policy – though the issue of women and children still seems to be worked out.

But perhaps none of that matters as voters overwhelmingly believe Reform cares about this issue – and as Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, pointed out on Monday, voters have lost confidence in the government somewhat to solve what many see as an immigration crisis on their doorstep.

So it’s clear the strategy has changed from the government.

Gone are the bold slogans of “smashing the gangs” and instead, detail and policy was given on Monday. It was nothing new, but more substance on what the government has done and where they want to move to. Even controversially, reassessing their relationship with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The biggest update though, was on their one-in-one-out policy agreement with France, which will now set to start returns later this month.

It’s finally hit home for the government that the public want proof not just rhetoric, and they want to know crucially when they will start to see change.

But the fightback, the reset, whatever the government wants to call it, will only make a difference once that finally starts to work.

UK

Police ask for help with unsolved murder more than 50 years ago

Published

3 hours ago

September 2, 2025

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Police ask for help with unsolved murder more than 50 years ago

Police are asking for help with an unsolved case, 52 years after the murder of a schoolboy in Belfast.

Brian McDermott was 10 when he disappeared from Ormeau Park on Sunday 2 September 1973. His remains were recovered from the River Lagan almost a week later.

Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Legacy Investigation Branch have given a timeline of events as part of their appeal.

Brian left his home on Well Street in the lower Woodstock Road area of east Belfast at around 12.30pm and failed to return for his Sunday dinner.

Detectives said he was last seen playing alone in the playground between 1pm and 3pm that afternoon.

His remains were recovered in the water, close to the Belfast Boat Club.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “We are acutely aware of the pain and suffering that Brian’s family continue to feel, and our thoughts very much remain with the family at this time.

“Despite the passage of time, this murder case has never been closed and I am hopeful that someone may be able to provide information, no matter how small, which may open a new line of inquiry, or add a new dimension to information already available.

“It is also possible that someone who did not volunteer information at the time may be willing to speak with police now. Legacy Investigation Branch Detectives will consider all investigative opportunities as part of the review into Brian’s murder.”

UK

Premier League flexes its financial muscle in record-breaking transfer window

Published

3 hours ago

September 2, 2025

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Premier League flexes its financial muscle in record-breaking transfer window

The transfer window was a show of strength in a record-breaking summer across the Premier League.

The totaliser crept over £3bn in spending, with more than half of it flowing among the 20 clubs rather than having a redistributing effect across Europe.

The start of new Premier League TV deals – the biggest individual source of income being from Sky News’ parent company Comcast – provides certainty for the next four years, while rival leagues can struggle to sell rights.

And the feared threat from Saudi Arabia has not materialised. It is an attractive and lucrative destination for some players, but not yet the ultimate destination.

But the kingdom has still influenced this transfer window.

Let’s start with Newcastle, four years into their ownership by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.

Having secured a return to the Champions League, bringing UEFA riches, this was the summer to grow rather than lose talent to rivals.

But the Premier League’s pecking order became clear when Alexander Isak pushed for a move to Liverpool and rejected bids that did not deter his ambitions.

Player power won out.

The 25-year-old striker was able to withdraw himself from the squad, miss the opening three matches of the season, and put out a statement claiming promises had been broken by the Magpies.

Liverpool ‘loading up on talent’

And so he held on until deadline day, biding his time, sitting it out, and standing firm. Newcastle folded, accepting £125m – £20m lower than their apparent valuation.

Breaking the British record fee was Liverpool’s American ownership flexing financial muscle like never before.

The Premier League champions allowed manager Arne Slot to build from a position of strength.

This was the second time they broke the record in this window after bringing in another forward, Florian Wirtz, in a £116m deal.

More than £400m in reinforcements arrived at Anfield in a matter of weeks.

Former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow told Sky Sports: “Liverpool are making hay while the sun shines, going for it. Really loading up on talent.

“Other clubs should be fearful and respectful of the way [Fenway Sports Group] are running their club.”

The Isak deal weakened their Champions League rivals from the North East after banking £57m from another club owned by the Public Investment Fund when Darwin Nunez was offloaded to Saudi.

And PIF funded Chelsea’s summer spending spree in less obvious ways.

The Blues did negotiate a £44m package with PIF-backed Al Nassr deal for Joao Felix, recouping the fee paid just a year earlier.

But then there was the £90m prize money collected for winning the new FIFA Club World Cup – a competition bankrolled by PIF subsidiaries.

Where does this leave Newcastle? Still spending around £250m.

Players and Liverpool couldn’t get all their way this summer, with Marc Guehi forced to stay at Crystal Palace after the FA Cup winners failed to secure a replacement for the England centre-back.

The late drama was just the latest of the summer transfer window’s twists and turns.

Both Arsenal and Manchester United also spent more than £200m each. The Gunners spent big in pursuit of a title that’s eluded them since 2004, while the Red Devils are just trying to get back into the Champions League.

It added up to a new record total outlay that comfortably eclipsed the previous Premier League record of £2.46bn from 2023.

The £3bn is more than the rest of Europe combined, showing both where the power is in world football and why the Premier League is the one the world wants to watch.