On top of the added levels of noise and air pollution, there’s the non-trivial matter of demolishing hundreds of homes, diverting several waterways and rerouting a long stretch of the M25Ladies and gentlemen, the captain has illuminated the “fasten seat belts” sign. Not only have Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves run into severe turbulence over Heathrow, the flight deck deliberately steered the Labour plane into storm clouds. That’s an interesting choice for a government that was already buffeted by serious unpopularity and it’s a choice that a lot of their own party are struggling to explain to themselves. Anger about the chancellor’s new commitment to back the expansion of the London airport and others is mingled with bewilderment. A lot of Labour people are scratching their heads trying to work out why she wants to burn political capital on a hugely contentious project that couldn’t possibly be complete until long after she’s done at the Treasury and Sir Keir is gone from Number...
The main conceptual idea of the article is that Labour's decision to support Heathrow expansion is politically risky and likely to create years of internal conflict and external opposition.
The author argues that:
* The decision is unpopular: It faces backlash from environmentalists who see it as incompatible with climate goals and from within Labour who believe it prioritizes the south-east over the rest of the country, breaking a promise to spread opportunity.
* The expansion is controversial: It has a long history of political setbacks and is likely to face continued legal challenges and protests, causing years of difficult political battles.
* The move is strategically questionable: Despite their majority, pushing through expansion will cause internal divisions within Labour and damage their image.
Ultimately, the article suggests that the government's focus on "growth at any cost" is leading them down a path of political turbulence and potential long-term damage to their credibility.
The main conceptual idea of the article is that Labour's decision to support Heathrow expansion is politically risky and likely to create years of internal conflict and external opposition. The author argues that: * The decision is unpopular: It faces backlash from environmentalists who see it as incompatible with climate goals and from within Labour who believe it prioritizes the south-east over the rest of the country, breaking a promise to spread opportunity. * The expansion is controversial: It has a long history of political setbacks and is likely to face continued legal challenges and protests, causing years of difficult political battles. * The move is strategically questionable: Despite their majority, pushing through expansion will cause internal divisions within Labour and damage their image. Ultimately, the article suggests that the government's focus on "growth at any cost" is leading them down a path of political turbulence and potential long-term damage to their credibility.
