Guido has dug out an old poll of constituents in Maidenhead commissioned by its MP. The voters there reported that they opposed airport expansion in the South East by 58% to 33%, also preferring a new airport to be built than a third runway at Heathrow by 39% to 23%. 77% expressed concerns about noise, 70% about air pollution and 69% about increased traffic. Who was the Tory MP who asked for and then ignored the views of her constituents? One Theresa May…
The Cabinet sub-committee will announce its decision on airport expansion next week BUT there will then be a year-long public consultation, meaning the final vote will not be until the winter of 2017/18. Ministers will be allowed to disagree with the government’s decision but not publicly campaign against it, which means Justine Greening and Boris presumably won’t be able to support a Judicial Review. Zac Goldsmith is set to call a by-election and run as an independent if they go with Heathrow. Downing Street won’t say how many ministers have threatened to resign…