Ed Miliband has ruled out resigning as energy secretary if Rachel Reeves backs a third runway at Heathrow – despite his previous objections.
More than a decade ago, Mr Miliband reportedly threatened to quit Gordon Brown’s cabinet if the then Labour government supported the airport’s expansion.
And in 2018 he said he would vote against another runway in the House of Commons, because “we owe it to future generations not just to have good environmental principles but to act on them”.
But asked on Thursday if he would consider handing in his resignation if the government gives the go-ahead, Mr Miliband said: “Don’t be ridiculous, no. The whole of the government is focused, and I’m focused, on delivering our clean energy mission as part of what we need to do as a country, as part of the prime minister’s mission and as part of meeting our economic growth mission – our number one priority.”
Labour’s deep splits on the issue were still apparent, however, as the Labour mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan put the chancellor on notice he would consider joining a legal challenge if she does back a third runway.
He said the aviation sector was important for growth and prosperity but added “we face a climate crisis and a climate emergency”.
Pointing to a finding by the Climate Change Committee that the only time expansion should be considered is if it abides with environmental commitments, he said: “The three big concerns that need to be addressed is could a new runway be built that abides with carbon targets, concerns around noise pollution, concerns around air pollution. Should that speculation become a reality we’ll of course consider the merits of that [legal] case. I’m quite clear my views have not changed.”
Ms Reeves is expected to use a speech on growth next week to support growing the west London airport and to endorse expansion at Gatwick and Luton.
Last week she said the rising cost of borrowing and falling value of the pound underlined the need for ministers to go “further and faster” in search of economic growth.
Asked about the Heathrow decision while on a trip to Davos to woo business investment, she said that growth, as the government’s primary mission, trumped net zero considerations.
Ms Reeves described growth as “obviously the most important thing”.
Sir Sadiq won a third term in office last year in part on a platform of opposing airport expansion in the capital.
Giving evidence to the London Assembly on Thursday, he said:” I’m quite clear, my views on the expansion of Heathrow by a new runway haven’t changed.”
Earlier this week another Labour mayor, Greater Manchester’s Andy Burnham, hit out at the idea saying it would help “overheat” the economy.
He warned: “It’s a model for an ever-overheating UK economy rather than a more balanced, levelled-up economy, which is what we would argue for. Manchester airport has two runways and it doesn’t operate at full capacity.”
Labour peer Prem Sikka said a third runway would be “madness”, was “bound to lead to environmental degradation” and protests, and was a “vote loser”.
