Transport Insights

I’m not saying the government’s latest consultation on Heathrow is a stitch-up but ministers are very clearly signalling where it is going.

third runway at Heathrow moves a step closer as government launches public consultation on the framework for future planning decisions

Alongside bullshit claims about “over £40 billion of benefits to the UK” – over what period? – there are clear signals that the facts will be made to fit the policy:

This marks another key milestone in delivering a final planning decision in 2029, making sure it meets key tests on noise, air quality, climate and economic growth.

It’s not exactly subtle: those key tests will be met. So are they really tests?

And there is a hint of menace for the meddling Climate Change Committee:

The independent Climate Change Committee is being formally consulted to advise on how expansion can be consistent with the net zero framework.

The answer is that expansion can be consistent with the net zero framework. The answer that the committee has to give is how.

But these are definitely tests, right? With the possibility that they might not be met and the new runway won’t be built?

It remains possible of course that ministers are being disingenuous in another way and are just going along with it all in the expectation that it will never happen – they just don’t want to be seen to be pulling the plug.