Goldsmith joined in criticism by Boris Johnson who claims scheme is ‘undeliverable’ and ‘extremely disappointed’ Justine Greening
Q&A: airport expansion in London – what will happen next
3.00pm BST
That’s it for the liveblog for today.
2.44pm BST
In the recent Witney byelection, the Lib Dems recorded their biggest byelection swing in 20 years, though they still lost to the Conservatives. That was a test ground for more winnable seats like Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith’s constituency), party sources said.
Recalling the byelection after the resignation of Lib Dem cabinet minister Chris Huhne, one senior Lib Dem source said:
Never mind Witney, this is going to be a bigger campaign than Eastleigh. In Witney we were going for a really strong second, which we achieved, this time we will be going to win.
This has been a bit unexpected. But I’m ready to go to the voters, and our activists are really fired up by the result in Witney, and want to get stuck in to another byelection.
A Conservative government has approved the expansion, and it shows how he has been ineffective in fighting it.
It was a strongly remain area and Zac has let down a lot of his constituents in supporting the leave campaign. He is not representing their opinions at all, and it creates a great deal of uncertainty for residents.
2.39pm BST
The SNP’s Westminster transport spokesperson, Drew Hendry, has called on the UK government to ensure that Scotland gets a “fair deal” from Heathrow expansion.
Welcoming the decision, Hendry said:
There is still a long way to go before parliament even gets to vote on it - and the Tories are deeply and bitterly divided about it -so for businesses and travellers there will still be frustration.
Whilst expansion at Heathrow can and must benefit Scotland, there will be disproportionate benefit to the south east of England and London. The UK government must ensure that when this does eventually get approval Scotland gets a fair deal from the process. We should see a commitment on route investment, guarantees to Scottish cities and an equitable share of any public spending that might be accrued coming to Scotland.
Wealthy frequent fliers will benefit, as they will from Scottish Mmnisters’ desire to cut air passenger duty. Maintaining air links between cities as far apart as Inverness and London makes sense but that does not require expansion. The real priorities for our tourist industry are skilled workers, better rail and bus travel for workers and visitors, and better broadband and mobile reception. Those cheering today’s announcement are celebrating a backward step.
2.37pm BST
The Lib Dems are unimpressed by the protestations of some Conservatives:
Empty words from Boris Johnson, Justine Greening and Zac Goldsmith are little comfort to those who elected them on an anti-#Heathrow ticket
2.27pm BST
Another senior Conservative has spoken out against the decision. The education secretary Justine Greening declared that she is “extremely disappointed”.
The MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields, said:
Along with many people in my local community, I am extremely disappointed with the decision to push ahead with a third runway at Heathrow.
My views against expanding Heathrow, particularly on the impact of noise and air pollution on local residents and the weak economic case, are long-held and well-known.
2.04pm BST
Here’s some more of what Boris Johnson’s said about the Heathrow decision
The foreign secretary claimed the project would cause “inevitable degradation” to the quality of life of people under the potential new flight paths.
He said:
A third runway is undeliverable. The day when the bulldozers appear is a long way off, if indeed they ever materialise.
No other great city would do this to its inhabitants. New York is going to be the city of beautiful skyscrapers, Paris the city of lights and London in the future, if we go ahead with this project, will be known as the city of planes.
I think it very likely it will be stopped. We have been here before and we are going to see an inevitable fight in the courts and I think the chances of success for the proponents of the third runway are not high.
1.46pm BST
Zac Goldsmith stood up in the Commons after Grayling’s statement and condemned the decision but made no mention of his plans to resign.
The government has chosen a course that is not only wrong, it is doomed. It’s wrong because of the million people who will suffer on the back of the environmental harm this project unavoidably produces and doomed because of the complexities and costs and legal complications means this project is almost certainly not going to be delivered.
I believe this will be a millstone around this government’s neck for many, many years to come, constant source of delay, of anger and betrayal among those people who will be directly affected.
I hope he will at least respect the fact that all of us in politics have to do what we believe is right, I am doing what I believe is right,” he said. “His views are what he believes is right. Not all of us can get it right all the time, but you have to do what you believe is best for your country and that is what I believe I am doing now.
1.44pm BST
Campaigners opposed to Gatwick’s expansion have expressed relief at today’s decision.
Sally Pavey, chair of CAGNE, Communities against Gatwick Noise and Emissions, said:
This clear decision will put an end to the years of uncertainty for our communities and the country. Gatwick expansion was always the wrong choice both from a national and a local perspective.
Nationally, had Gatwick been chosen, Britain could not have competed with Europe’s excellent transport hubs because we would have had two inadequate hubs 40 miles apart with little or no connectivity. Locally, it would have brought our infrastructure to a standstill, destroyed our ancient woodlands, heritage sites, and areas of outstanding natural beauty, added numerous new flight paths over areas previously undisturbed and doubled flights over our skies night and day with no respite.
1.35pm BST
This animation shows the layers of air traffic associated with each of London’s five major airports over a 24-hour period. In Heathrow’s case that will obviously expand if a third runway is built.
1.32pm BST
Foreign secretary Boris Johnson may not have spoken up during this morning’s cabinet meeting, according to Number 10, but he has now.
He said a third runway at Heathrow is “undeliverable”, adding:
I think it very likely it will be stopped.
1.27pm BST
Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald begins by condemning the fact that the decision was widely leaked in the media ahead of being sent to him and announced to the house.
He also criticises the “procrastination and delay”.
Firstly, on sufficient capacity being delivered; secondly, that the UK’s legal climate change obligations are met; thirdly, that local noise and environmental impacts are managed and minimised; and fourthly, that the benefits are not confined to London and the South East.
1.21pm BST
Grayling says:
This is a decision in the national interest, it is not just about south-east England.
1.17pm BST
Grayling says the government is backed by UK airlines and businesses that a third runway at Heathrow is the right option.
He stresses that Gatwick remains “a key part of out transport infrastructure and will continue to be so in the future”.
1.11pm BST
Grayling begins his statement in the Commons saying if we do nothing the costs to the economy will be significant.
Any one of the three plans would have brought benefits but a third runway at Heathrow was the clear decision of the Airports Commission, he continues.
The government has decided to accept that recommendation.
Crucially it comes with world-leading measures to limit the impacts on those living nearby.
1.06pm BST
Labour said it still needed “vital reassurances” before backing Heathrow, even though it said airport expansion was “much needed” for investment and growth.
Shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald, said:
Labour has consistently been in favour of building an additional runway in the south east of England. But this support has always been conditional on four tests being met: on capacity, climate change, noise and air quality and the wider national benefits. Today’s announcement, heralding another consultation, does not yet do that.
12.50pm BST
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell says the decision is a “disaster”:
My response to the Government’s announcement today to support a third runway at Heathrow in my constituency. pic.twitter.com/V7OaiZ8XGn
12.48pm BST
Theresa May told the Evening Standard:
After decades of delay we are showing that we will take the big decisions when they’re the right decisions for Britain, and we will ensure they’re right for ordinary working people too.
Airport expansion is vital for the economic future of the whole of the UK and today also provides certainty to Londoners. Businesses will know that we are building the infrastructure they need to access global markets.
12.43pm BST
The Scottish government has faced considerable criticism since it announced its backing for the third runway, which it claimed would create up to 16,000 jobs across Scotland.
A memorandum of understanding was signed at the start of October between London Heathrow airport and the SNP government, containing a series of commitments, including the one on jobs, investigating the use of Glasgow Prestwick airport as a potential site for a logistics hub for building the third runway, and a reduction of £10 per passenger on landing charges paid by airlines operating services from Heathrow to Scotland,
The SNP have utterly failed to square their backing for Heathrow with their climate change commitments and ambition to reduce environmentally damaging short-haul flights.
12.41pm BST
This seems surprising given that Boris Johnson said, as he left Downing Street, that he would continue to fight against Heathrow expansion. We know Justine Greening is opposed to a third runway as well.
No10: Cab sub cttee decision on Heathrow was "unanimous". And when May informed full Cabinet "there wasn't a discussion". No Boris dissent.
12.38pm BST
Neil Keveren, whose house faces what is scheduled to become the boundary fence of the new runway, said residents felt “betrayed” by the decision, six years after David Cameron gave a commitment that a third runway would not be built at Heathrow, “no ifs, no buts”.
We received a promise. We all made life choices based on that, which we believed. Some people decided to lay their loved ones to rest here because of it. I invested in my home. I thought we were safe and I feel we have been have been betrayed by Theresa May.
12.29pm BST
Somewhat incredibly, the government has suggested the third runway at Heathrow would help reduce carbon emissions:
Gotta admire the chutzpah of a government that spins a third runway at Heathrow as good news for carbon emissions https://t.co/jAA7ADARkp pic.twitter.com/keT3w1vHOJ
Government also concludes expanded Heathrow will meet legal air pollution limits, due to mitigation measures pic.twitter.com/JvXe182i7d
12.28pm BST
Lib Dems leader Tim Farron said the government has betrayed communities in west London.
The ‘No Ifs, No Buts’ pledge from the Conservatives has been thrown by the wayside in the rush to bulldoze homes and build a new runway.
Zac Goldsmith has failed Richmond Park on Heathrow and betrayed them on Brexit.
12.24pm BST
Here is Chris Grayling explaining Heathrow was chosen to boost connectivity to the rest of the UK and to provide the best trade links to the rest of the world.
12.20pm BST
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, accused the government of “running roughshod over Londoners’ views”, saying he had been elected on a clear platform of opposing a new runway at Heathrow.
He said:
A new runway at Heathrow will be devastating for air quality across London – air pollution around the airport is already above legal levels of NO2.
Heathrow already exposes more people to aircraft noise than Paris CDG, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Munich and Madrid combined. A third runway would mean an extra 200,000 people impacted, exposing 124 more schools and 43,200 more schoolchildren to an unacceptable level of noise.
12.13pm BST
The Guardian understands that Zac Goldsmith will announce his resignation this afternoon, making good on his promise to do so if the green light was given to a third runway at Heathrow. He will thereby trigger a tricky by-election for the Conservatives.
Following the Government's catastrophic Heathrow announcement, I will be meeting my constituents later today before making a statement.
12.08pm BST
This is what has been given the go ahead:
This is a significant moment for thousands of residents living near Heathrow who back expansion because they have waited a long time for today’s news.
It’s now or never. Building a new runway at Heathrow has plenty of cross-party support in parliament and backing from the majority of international airlines, business groups, trade unions, exporters and communities surrounding the airport. This is a golden opportunity for the UK that must not be squandered.
12.05pm BST
The leader of Richmond Council said he is “appalled” by today’s decision. He promised to “fight this threat, using every means at our disposal within the law” and that the third runway would never be built.
Lord True, Leader of @LBRUT slams Government decision to expand #Heathrow #NOtoHeathrow @bbcbreaking https://t.co/hHt2kuIOuT
12.00pm BST
The government said it will propose a six-and-a-half hour ban on scheduled night flights, and will make more stringent night noise restrictions a requirement of expansion. It will also propose new legally binding noise targets.
It also stipulated that the third runway “must be delivered without hitting passengers in the pocket”. Although charges to airlines are expected to rise substantially at an expanded Heathrow, the government said that the Airports Commission and CAA were clear that keeping fares steady was “achievable”.
We will be scrutinising this decision and future, more detailed, plans. Heathrow is the most expensive hub airport in the world - and airports are not funded by the taxpayer, but by passengers. Today’s passengers must not pay for capacity that will not be operational until the mid-2020s.
11.58am BST
Armelle Thomas has lived in Harmondsworth since the late 1960s - she and her late husband Tommy met while working at Heathrow and “fell in love” with the village.
Her house, just behind the High Street, is one of those set to disappear under the new runway, but Thomas said she was determined never to move.
My house is not for sale at any price. I was with my husband for 46 years and I have my memories.
Nobody is talking about 10,500 people being made homeless by a government that is supposed to be compassionate. I’m a Conservative, I have always been, but they will never get my vote again.
Where is he going to move to? He’s not going to find another house, another village. He has there since before Heathrow, he grew up there. He will never have people supporting him like they do in the village when he is sick. It’s totally unfair on people like him.
11.56am BST
Business leaders have welcomed the decision to expand Heathrow. The president of the CBI, Paul Drechsler, said it was “an enormous relief to firms in every corner of the country”.
He said:
It will create the air links that will do so much to drive jobs and unlock growth across the UK.
With contracts to tender for, apprentices to recruit and supply chains to build, this decision must be taken forward swiftly, giving businesses the confidence to invest.
The decision to expand Heathrow tramples over the concerns of local people and puts a wrecking ball through the Government’s claim to be concerned about climate change. The truth is that the Government went into this process with their eyes shut to the only sensible option: stopping airport expansion.
The north-south divide has been increasing: by giving the go ahead to yet another runway in the south the Prime Minister has effectively pulled the rug on her own flagship policy of rebalancing our nation’s economy.
It’s madness to be promoting domestic flights at the same time as investing in alternatives like high speed rail.
11.54am BST
Heathrow is naturally pleased with the decision.
A spokesman for the airport said:
We welcome the news that Heathrow is government’s preferred site for a new runway and look forward to hearing the full details later from the transport secretary.
Expansion of Heathrow is the only option that will connect all of the UK to global growth, helping to build a stronger and fairer economy.
11.46am BST
It is understood Justine Greening, the education secretary, will restate her opposition to expansion at Heathrow in a statement for constituents later on Tuesday afternoon.
She is not expected to give any broadcast or press interviews. Under the terms of May’s limited suspension of collective responsibility, Greening will be able to continue expressing her discontent with the decision without actively campaigning against it.
11.42am BST
Leaving Downing Street, Grayling was asked if he truly believed the third runway would become a reality. He answered: “Absolutely.”
11.39am BST
The Campaign for Better Transport said the decision to back a third runway was scandalous.
Chief executive, Stephen Joseph, said:
It’s scandalous that the government has completely ignored the environmental impact of a new runway, or the costs it will impose on people on lower incomes with the huge sums the Airports Commission proposes adding to the cost of plane tickets to allow a new runway to be built. There is also the huge cost to the taxpayer of providing the addition surface access to Heathrow, which Transport for London’s own research shows is likely to be at least £17 bn, and how this will siphon off money from other schemes to tackle London’s already overcrowded transport network.
Expanding Heathrow would be a hugely damaging blow for local people, and makes a complete mockery of government commitments to tackle climate change. With the government poised to sign the Paris climate agreement, it’s decision to expand Heathrow – shortly after forcing fracking on the people of Lancashire – looks deeply cynical.
However this is only the first step on a long journey that will see communities, councils and climate campaigners continue the battle to reverse this misjudged and damaging decision.
11.35am BST
Confirming the decision to build a third runway at Heathrow, transport secretary Chris Grayling says the government has made a “momentous” decision today:
The step that government is taking today is truly momentous. I am proud that after years of discussion and delay this government is taking decisive action to secure the UK’s place in the global aviation market – securing jobs and business opportunities for the next decade and beyond.
A new runway at Heathrow will improve connectivity in the UK itself and crucially boost our connections with the rest of the world, supporting exports, trade and job opportunities. This isn’t just a great deal for business, it’s a great deal for passengers who will also benefit from access to more airlines, destinations and flights.
11.30am BST
We now have official government confirmation:
Govt confirms it is backing third runway at Heathrow – "the first full length runway in the south-east since the second world war"
11.29am BST
It looks like we will be waiting at least until this evening for Zac Goldsmith’s promised resignation in the event that a third runway at Heathrow was given the go ahead.
Zac Goldsmith latest: no immediate resignation this afternoon, speaking to constituents first. Statement this evening.
11.27am BST
A Labour source said:
Seems the way the country is finding out about the decision on Heathrow is through a series of leaks - sums up the government’s disregard for those affected.
11.23am BST
Other cabinet members have also been responding to the apparent choice of Heathrow:
Liz Truss nods to camera when she's asked if it's a good decision on Heathrow.. Others, including expansion fan Sajid Javid, poker faced.
Greg Clark, communities secretary, smiles and nods when he's asked if Heathrow is a good decision
11.21am BST
Boris Johnson appears to have confirmed the decision, leaving Number 10:
Boris Johnson leaving cabinet. Will you continue to oppose Heathrow ?"Yes"
11.14am BST
A decision that a third runway will be built at Heathrow paves the way for hundreds of thousands more flights a year at the London airport.
In the long-awaited response, the government looks as if it has endorsed the recommendation of the Airports Commission to expand Heathrow rather than Gatwick airport, which had hoped to build a second runway.
11.13am BST
John Stewart, chair of the campaign group HACAN, which has been fighting a third runway at Heathrow, said:
As expected, permission for a new runway has been made dependent on certain legal conditions being met. HACAN will fight for the implementation of these measures whether we get a third runway or Heathrow ultimately remains a two runway airport.
Countless residents will be dismayed and distraught by this decision. Some will lose their homes. Some face the daunting prospect of living under a noisy flight path for the first time. And many others will get yet more planes over their heads. But real doubts must remain whether this new runway will ever see the light of day. The hurdles it faces remain: costs, noise, air pollution and widespread opposition including an expected legal challenge from the local authorities.
11.07am BST
John Stewart, one of the leading campaigners against a third runway at Heathrow, has said that the decision has been made with “legal conditions” that the airport will have to meet.
10.51am BST
Looks like we’re going to be kept waiting for transport secretary Chris Grayling’s official confirmation of the decision...
And lo the delays begin. Heathrow statement in Commons delayed for Urgent Question
10.43am BST
Lib Dems are protesting outside Downing Street against a third runway at Heathrow.
Tom Brake addresses #Heathrow protest, that's Vince Cable in the middle in the hat pic.twitter.com/N3wgVv7c5y
Anti-#Heathrow protest for Lib Dems outside Downing Street pic.twitter.com/3it07detVV
10.39am BST
Green party MEPs believe it’s a done deal in favour of Heathrow (as the BBC is reporting citing anonymous sources).
Keith Taylor, Green MEP for the south east, who sits on the European Parliament’s transport committee, said:
There are no two ways about it; this is a disastrous decision for the people of the south east, London, Britain, and the planet. Welcome to Theresa May’s never-never land, where prime ministers never have to listen to scientists and never have to apologise for increasing CO2 emissions and air pollution levels.
The Maidenhead MP has flip-flopped on her previous opposition to Heathrow and has kowtowed to the demands of multi-million-pound airport lobbies while ignoring the concerns of her own constituents and the need to take urgent action to mitigate catastrophic climate change. Is this what the prime minister had in mind when she promised to build a Britain not driven by the interests of a privileged few?
Contrary to all the evidence Theresa May has decided to forge ahead with the expansion of Heathrow airport regardless of the dreadful impact this will have on the local community, London and indeed the planet.”
This decision is clearly incompatible with Britain’s recent agreement to ratify the Paris agreement and will further contribute to air pollution for my constituents in London and beyond.
10.23am BST
This is the message from Clear Air in London:
MODERATE and HIGH #airpollution around Heathrow today and forever unless #NoRunway #NoNewRunways HT @airTEXT pic.twitter.com/qFAzxH2lSM
10.19am BST
It is probably too late for this...
Last minute call to @theresa_may – expansion of #Heathrow would be disastrous for West London #notoheathrow @BBCBreaking @BBCNews pic.twitter.com/cZg10cYfgD
10.10am BST
The BBC’s political editor says Heathrow has got the green light (which is what most people are expecting).
So, it seems done (at last!) Source tells me Heathrow did get the nod in committee this morning - No 10 won't confirm or deny, cabinet now
10.09am BST
The meeting of the airports sub-committee has taken place, which means a decision has been taken ...but we await the details of what it is.
Theresa May is currently communicating her decision to the cabinet.
10.01am BST
Green party co-leader Caroline Lucas is at the protest outside the Houses of Parliament. She says the message is “expanding aviation is not compatible with ...climate change objectives”.
Our message is very clear. There should be no airport expansion at either #Heathrow or #Gatwick. #NoNewRunways pic.twitter.com/S2qnWQM4bU
Just spoke to @CarolineLucas who tells me she's not ruling out chaining herself to the Heathrow runway in direct action @LBC
9.49am BST
Protesters against airport expansion have been making their point outside the Houses of Parliament this morning.
9.47am BST
WWF UK and Friends of the Earth have both criticised the decision to approve new runway capacity.
WWF UK’s director of advocacy, Trevor Hutchings, said:
Expanding airport capacity makes little business and no environmental sense. The government plans to ratify the Paris treaty, committing us to reduce the UK’s carbon footprint – and just weeks ago it helped to broker a deal that aims to reduce emissions from international aviation. Bringing more air traffic to London’s busy airports flies in the face of that objective.
Before any concrete is poured the government should publish a credible plan for driving down aviation emissions. And its industrial strategy must unequivocally commit to low-carbon growth, providing long-term clarity for investors in clean energy, infrastructure and transport.
We won’t tackle climate change if Heathrow or Gatwick airports are allowed to expand.
Expanding airports anywhere will cause more noise and air pollution, with millions of people under flightpaths facing hundreds of extra flights every day.
9.42am BST
Sandeep Chopra, who has run the village shop in Harmondsworth for the past six years, said the decision to build a third runway at Heathrow, forcing the demolition or evacuation of most of the village, would “destroy my life”.
I will lose everything - my business, my house. It’s not easy going somewhere and starting again.
I have a large family, we don’t take anything from the government in housing benefit or anything like that, and we all depend on this shop.
It’s a residents’ shop. People love the community, and they support us.
9.33am BST
Greenhouse gas emissions could consume around half the carbon budget available to the UK in 2050, even if the sector’s emissions growth is constrained, according to analysis by Carbon Brief.
It says:
In its most recent forecasts of demand for air travel, the government said that even without a new runway at Heathrow, UK airports would serve 445 million passengers per annum (mppa) in 2050. This is more than twice the 211 mppa served in 2010.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said UK aviation emissions, including international flights departing from UK airports, would reach 47MtCO2e by 2050 without airport expansion. With new runways, passenger numbers could rise to 480mppa, the DfT says. Carbon Brief estimates this would translate into emissions of 51MtCO2e in 2050.
9.25am BST
This is a reminder of just how long we have been waiting for this decision:
Today's news is making me nostalgic. Govt gives green light to new runways at Stansted and Heathrow - by me in 2003 https://t.co/7YClECmuWT
9.22am BST
Greenpeace has reiterated that it will, with local councils around Heathrow, take legal action if a third runway at the UK’s biggest airport is given the go-ahead.
Executive director John Sauven said:
Is the May government about to repeat the error of the Brown government and assume both the laws of nature and the law of the land can be fudged to allow another runway? That was the mistake Gordon Brown made shortly before the High Court blocked his Heathrow plan. We stand ready, with four Conservative local authorities, including Theresa May’s own council, to bring a judicial review against a green light for a third runway.
9.15am BST
In Harmondsworth, one of a handful of villages set to be partly or wholly demolished if Heathrow expands, residents and campaigners began gathering early in the Five Bells pub, on the village green.
I elected David Cameron because he promised no third runway, and then it all gets U-turned around. I’m shocked Theresa May can let us down like this.
8.46am BST
John Allan, chairman of London First, told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme:
From a UK perspective Heathrow is probably the right answer, but the critical thing is that they make a decision.
What we want above all is more airport capacity in the south east. The most important thing is to get on with it. Even though it is only a step in the road, it is a very important step in the road.
8.38am BST
Here is a potted history of Heathrow:
This is how #Heathrow grew from a tiny airfield to a major hub with 75 million people passing through each year pic.twitter.com/PMzjBslYpC
8.36am BST
Jeremy Taylor, from Gatwick Diamond Business, told the BBC it is “disappointing” that Heathrow is the frontrunner. He also said that a third runway at the capital’s largest airport is unviable, partly because of the level of opposition to it, and a decision in favour of expansion there would just be “delaying the day when we see a second runway coming to Gatwick”.
Campaigners hoping #Gatwick Airport will be chosen for expansion today instead of #Heathrow express disappointment. pic.twitter.com/g9VoqUv1sq
8.30am BST
Daniel Moylan, a consultant for Gatwick Airport, described the Heathrow expansion option as “rubbish” when he was aviation advisor to then-mayor of London Boris Johnson.
He ttold BBC Radio Four’s Today programme
Well, I’ve always thought that Heathrow is a rubbish idea, going back the last 15 years.
The pattern of history we see here is that there’s a group of people who keep batting for another runway at Heathrow. They keep coming forward with proposals, they always fail. And instead of learning their lessons, they have another go at the brick wall.
8.27am BST
One of the cabinet members opposed to Heathrow expansion has arrived at Downing Street.
Education Sec. Justine Greening arrives at No.10. She's opposed to Heathrow. As has Chris Grayling, Transport Sec. he'll make announcement.
8.21am BST
A survey of 647 UK exporters found that only 35% were happy with current provision at their local airport.
Just over a third (37%) believe extra international routes at their local airport would help them sell more goods and services overseas and the figure rises to 43% among exporting businesses in London.
Our survey demonstrates that connectivity is an issue right across the UK and not simply in and around the capital.
There are many factors at play when it comes to British businesses reaching the government’s ambitious export targets, but being able to quickly and easily access key overseas markets is clearly one of the most important.
7.21am BST
The co-leaders of the Green party, which opposes expansion at both Heathrow and Gatwick, have warned of the environment impact of today’s decision.
Caroline Lucas said:
The government is on the brink of announcing climate-wrecking plans for airport expansion in south east England. We know that that laying more tarmac at either Heathrow or Gatwick will bust any hope we have of meeting our climate change commitments, and inflict noise and air pollution on already blighted local communities.
Instead of expanding these airports the government should introduce a frequent flyer levy to reduce the need for any new runway capacity and invest the money raised in further measures to offer climate-friendly alternatives to air travel. I urge ministers to look at this proposal – and hope that opposition parties can join together in opposing airport expansion and backing this sensible alternative.
The Labour party appears to have fallen into line with the government on airport expansion. Despite longstanding opposition to such a move from Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnnell it seems that the party may swing behind further expansion of the busiest airport in Europe.
Such a cross party consensus on airport expansion is deeply disappointing.
7.12am BST
One of the arguments against a third runway at Heathrow is that the already stretched transport infrastructure in the area could not cope.
There’s a timely reminder of the congestion that already often blights the area this morning.
Because of the #hogarthfuelspillage the A4 is solid eastbound from Heathrow to Cranford [ro] pic.twitter.com/6UN3xCHfyD
7.01am BST
I’m now handing over the live blog reins to Haroon Siddique, who’ll cover the Heathrow announcement – whenever it comes – plus all the day’s other politics news.
6.51am BST
Environmental activists, communities and local authorities are preparing for a campaign of opposition to a third runway at Heathrow, ahead of the decision.
Residents of villages threatened by the expansion have already been taking part in training for direct action, activists said, while four local councils have amassed a £200,000 war chest to fight expansion through the courts.
Related: Heathrow expansion: opponents ready to fight back ahead of decision
6.39am BST
The Sun reports today that Theresa May’s own website did, once upon a time, carry a number of posts railing against the possibility of a third runway at Heathrow.
The posts, it says, were removed in 2013.
A third runway will result in thousands of additional flights, increased noise and more pollution for thousands of people.
I hope that the secretary of state recognises that as a result of today’s announcement, nobody will take this government seriously on the environment again.
6.30am BST
If the government approves the building of a new runway, it is likely to be another four to five years before before spades are in the ground. The government will launch a limited public consultation on the local impacts of its decision before publishing a national policy statement on aviation next year. This needs to be ratified by parliamentary vote, either in late 2017 or 2018: still a quicker process than the parliamentary machinery employed for HS2, whose hybrid bill for the first phase is yet to be passed.
Related: Q&A: airport expansion in London – what will happen next
6.17am BST
The Telegraph – which might not have Boris Johnson as a columnist any more but knows a thing or two about his thoughts nonetheless – says the foreign secretary is poised to open a rift within the cabinet as soon as any plan to expand Heathrow is announced:
Mr Johnson, the foreign secretary, is expected to make a statement shortly after in which he will argue that the decision is “wrong” and a “mistake”.
He will say that while he is a supporter of a “global Britain” after Brexit, an additional runway at Heathrow will increase pollution and noise levels.
I will lie down with you in front of those bulldozers and stop the building, stop the construction of that third runway.
I don’t think my services as a bulldozer blocker will be required for decades, if ever, because I don’t think it’s going to happen … It won’t succeed.
6.06am BST
It’s … complicated.
The cabinet’s airports subcommittee will meet on Tuesday morning to make a decision. We could hear after that.
4.10pm BST
The government is finally expected to announce its decision as to which London airport expansion scheme it will choose today.
The options are:
Related: Heathrow third runway expected to get May cabinet green light
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