Scottish LibDems say support for Heathrow 3rd runway must be withdrawn by next First Minister
The LibDems in Scotland say the next first minister has been urged to finally end Scottish Government support for the expansion of Heathrow, if they’re serious about the climate emergency. They say the SNP’s support of third runway at Heathrow was “simply not compatible” with emissions-cutting targets. Party leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said the climate had been “shamefully neglected” during the leadership contest by Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan. And he told whoever succeeds Nicola Sturgeon to “rip up” a deal between Heathrow Airport and Scottish ministers. A Scottish Government memorandum of understanding with Heathrow backing the proposed expansion includes a pledge of up to 16,000 new jobs in Scotland and 75,000 additional flights between Scottish airports and London. The Scottish LibDems said this would generate nearly 600,000 tons of extra emissions by 2040 and hammer the country’s net zero ambitions. A report by the Climate Change Committee said Scotland was falling behind the rest of the UK in decarbonising transport and had been “unwilling to consider measures” like restricting aviation growth.
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Support for Heathrow third runway must be withdrawn by next First Minister, say Lib Dems
The SNP’s backing of controversial plans for expansion at Heathrow Airport are ‘not compatible’ with climate goals, Alex Cole-Hamilton said.
by Dan Vevers
24.3.2023
The next first minister has been urged to finally end Scottish Government support for the expansion of Heathrow Airport if they’re serious about the climate emergency.
The Lib Dems said the SNP’s support of controversial plans for a third runway at Heathrow was “simply not compatible” with emissions-cutting targets.
Party chief Alex Cole-Hamilton said the climate had been “shamefully neglected” during the Nats leadership contest by Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan.
And he told whoever succeeds Nicola Sturgeon to “rip up” a deal between Heathrow Airport and Scottish ministers.
A Scottish Government memorandum of understanding with Heathrow backing the proposed expansion includes a pledge of up to 16,000 new jobs north of the border and 75,000 additional flights between Scottish airports and London.
But the Scottish Liberal Democrats said this would generate nearly 600,000 tons of extra emissions by 2040 and hammer the country’s net zero ambitions.
Cole-Hamilton said: “Amid all the backstabbing and chaos of the SNP leadership race, the climate emergency has been shamefully neglected.
“It’s been clear for some time that expanding Heathrow is simply not compatible with Scotland’s climate change commitments. This expansion alone would produce more emissions than some small countries.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats are clear that we should be focusing on cheaper, better and faster rail services instead and spreading the benefits of international connections to regional airports rather than centralising yet more of our economy in the South East.”
He added: “All three SNP leadership candidates need to say whether they will rip up the Heathrow deal and finally put some muscle behind Scotland’s pledge to tackle the climate emergency after years of missed targets and opportunities.”
Transport – including flying and shipping – is the biggest source of harmful emissions in Scotland, accounting for more than a third.
A report by expert advisers the Climate Change Committee said Scotland was falling behind the rest of the UK in decarbonising transport and had been “unwilling to consider measures” like restricting aviation growth.
Former economy secretary Keith Brown signed the memorandum with Heathrow in October 2016, with airport chiefs subsequently hosting receptions at SNP conference.
Nationalist MPs abstained on the Heathrow expansion vote in Westminster in 2018.
The airport’s expansion plans were put on hold due to Covid and a series of court cases. But Heathrow bosses are expected to set out renewed plans later this year.
The three SNP leadership candidates were contacted for comment.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/support-heathrow-third-runway-must-29535397
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See earlier:
SNP accused of ‘greenwashing backroom deal’ over higher Scottish aviation CO2 if Heathrow expands
Documents have shown that the Scottish Government has adopted aviation industry claims that expanding Heathrow would not lead to increased CO2 emissions from Scotland. Logically, if there are many more flights between Scottish airports and Heathrow, that would increase Scotland’s aviation carbon emissions. A memo prepared for Scotland’s First Minister last October, obtained by The Ferret, claims that “there is nothing to suggest that LHR [Heathrow] expansion will have a negative impact on emissions attributable to Scotland”. Environmental groups say it is “worrying to see how closely aligned the Scottish Government appears to be with the aviation lobby,” and argue that the document “casts doubt on how serious the Scottish Government is about reaching its climate targets”. Claims that emissions would not rise are based on the aviation sector’s over-optimistic hopes that remarkable novel fuels will soon be produced (or electric planes will fly using zero-carbon electricity ….) that will mean flying will no longer emit so much carbon. The AEF said the claim that Scotland’s emissions wouldn’t increase as a result of a third runway “suggest[s] some very odd carbon accounting somewhere along the line”.
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FoI documents show Scottish airports would lose perhaps 220,000 passengers per year, if Heathrow got 3rd runway
Scottish airports could lose more than 220,000 passengers per year, if Heathrow got a 3rd runway. The regions have been led to believe the runway would benefit them, in terms of links to Heathrow and more jobs. The reality is different. The Scottish Government had backed the runway plans, hoping Scotland would benefit. But the DfT’s own data – revealed in emails – shows they expect number of passengers using Scottish airports would reduce, with the 3rd runway, as Heathrow would increasingly have a monopoly of lucrative long-haul routes. There might be more domestic flights to Heathrow from Newcastle, cutting demand from Glasgow and Edinburgh airports. The Scottish government needs to consider their position on Heathrow very carefully. The figures on alleged jobs were based on very, very dodgy, out of date data, (assuming benefits of the runway to the UK over 60 years as £147 bn, when in reality they might at most be £3bn – or an actual cost) that cannot be believed. “Estimates of aviation emissions from an expanded Heathrow were redacted in the emails released.”
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