John Healey signals support for third runway at Heathrow despite Andy Burnham ducking issue

While the scheme was championed by his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, Mr Burnham has ducked the issue of whether the project should go ahead, suggesting it should be "a matter for London and Londoners".

Now, Mr Healey has signalled his own support for the proposals during a speech in the Thai capital.

When asked about his views on the project, Mr Healey said Labour would study responses to a public consultation, which recently closed.

However, he said: "In recent decades, and this is true in Heathrow and airports right across the UK, they have been a big part of jobs and growth.

"The case for a third runway at Heathrow has always been a case for growth.

"The formal position now is that the consultation is closed. Led by the transport department, we’re reviewing those and further decisions, and announcements will follow."

Earlier this week, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander insisted "Britain loses by standing still", saying Heathrow expansion could help grow the economy, after the airport’s boss criticised the uncertainty over the plans.

She told business leaders at the AirportsUK annual conference that Labour still needed to make a final decision about the expansion plans following a consultation.

But Mrs Alexander said: "Britain loses by standing still, and that focus on competitiveness is guiding our approach to Heathrow.

"A third runway has the potential to create new opportunities, jobs, investment and growth in every corner of this country."

Despite two of his most senior cabinet ministers signalling support for the proposals, Mr Burnham has refused to confirm his support, saying it depends on consultation and the planning process.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said economic growth "is obviously very important" and acknowledged the potential boost a third runway could deliver.

But he added: "This is a major privately financed infrastructure project, and there’s a proper process to go through. It’s entirely right that the Prime Minister considers the detail and listens to the views put forward.

"Any final decisions will have to meet the tests we’ve set on climate, noise, and air quality. But there’s currently no live planning application for a third runway."

The project, estimated to cost £33billion, is opposed by environmental campaigners, the Green Party, local resident groups, and London Mayor Lord Sadiq Khan.

Green leader Zack Polanski told The Standard: "A third runway at Heathrow would be a great betrayal. A betrayal of our climate commitments, a betrayal of communities breathing polluted air, and a betrayal of our children’s future.

"There is no more room for political fudge, no more pretending that you can pour more concrete, add more flights and somehow make the climate crisis disappear.

"Yet Labour is still trying to push this reckless project through."

Meanwhile, Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye said he hoped the Prime Minister would throw his weight behind the third runway scheme, adding: "It would be good to know where the Government is on this".

He warned that investment could be lost overseas without a firm commitment to building a new runway.

Mr Woldbye said: "Our shareholders would like to do this. They do think that things are taking a long time, and so far they have decided to be OK with that.

"But of course we cannot wait forever."