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Evening Standard
Evening Standard

Chancellor Reeves backs controversial Heathrow expansion in UK growth bid

Chancellor Rachel Reeves speaking in Oxfordshire, where she announced government backing for Heathrow’s controversial third runway (Peter Cziborra/PA) - (PA Wire)

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Rachel Reeves confirmed the government will support building a third runway at Heathrow in a major speech aimed to boost economic growth and jobs.

But she is expected to face fierce opposition to expanding the west London airport from senior Labour colleagues, including Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan who posted immediately on X after the chancellor’s speech in Oxfordshire he remains against the plan.

Also among the chancellor’s announcements in a “dash for growth” was government backing for the £9 billion Lower Thames Crossing linking Kent and Essex under a PFI deal, an Oxbridge rail link and reiterating plans to limit judicial reviews by campaigners fighting mega-projects.

The London Standard’s chief political correspondent, Rachael Burford joins us to examine the detail.

In part two, TfL signals the end of the Wild West End for ‘rip-off’ pedicabs in a licencing crackdown - our City Hall and transport editor, Ross Lydall has the latest.

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