Heathrow’s third runway – what it means for climate policy and the Labour party

Image - Tomek Baginski

This article was originally published on May 14, 2025.

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In January 2025, Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that, after years of indecision, the government was throwing its weight behind plans to expand Heathrow airport. Reeves said the runway is ‘badly needed’ and ‘the government ‘cannot duck the decision any longer’. The decision is in line with Labour’s ‘growth’ message, as the expansion could, in theory, create 100,000 jobs, as well as send a message to foreign investors, improve Britain’s competitiveness and increase our role in global networks. But what of the environmental impacts? Though the government have stated that the plans must meet net zero targets, the climate change committee are warning against the expansion, and the pressure group ‘friends of the Earth’ are calling it ‘hugely irresponsible’. Moreover, what does backing the third runway say about the current Labour party? As Labour veer ever further from the ideological left, this policy decision seems to be another symptom of a party that voters can hardly recognise anymore.

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The topic of adding a third runway at Heathrow first emerged in 2001, when aviation industry officials announced their support for the idea. Both parties supported it until 2008, when David Cameron announced a new ‘vote blue, go green’ campaign for the Conservatives. Labour stayed in favour however, despite internal rebellion. They were unable to get the plan underway as they lost the 2010 election, but they supported the policy in opposition, with Ed Balls stating in 2014 that ‘we must not let politics get in the way of good businesses. It wasn’t until Jeremy Corbyn became Labour leader that things changed. Corbyn opposed the expansion in his leadership campaign and appointed John McDonnell, a long-term opponent of the third runway and MP of a constituency near the airport, as shadow chancellor. Corbyn was strong on environmental policy across the board, promising to start treating climate protection as a public good as well as ban fracking and range of other policies. Under him, Labour became a party united in favour of environmental protection, and they abandoned their desire for a third runway, opposing it when the Conservatives, led by Theresa May, chose to support the expansion again. Keir Starmer, too, had a record of voting against the policy. Environmental prioritisation is commonly associated by a left leaning agenda, with green parties globally being on the progressive left. While the Tory’s, like many parties on the right, were ridden with climate sceptic factions, Labour championed the environment.

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So, what changed? In the last five years the world has faced a series of challenges that have pushed climate further down the global agenda, including two major conflicts, the rise of far-right populism, a global pandemic and an energy crisis. On top of that, Britain’s economy is in tatters, its welfare system is on its knees, Reform UK are doing ever better in the polls and the government are struggling to contend with all the implications of Donald Trump’s second term. In some ways it is no surprise that Labour have moved away from their once noble goals of protecting the environment.

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But the environment is in a worse state than ever. Extreme climate events are becoming more and more common and 2023 was the second warmest year for the UK on record. The environmental impacts of expanding Heathrow are so great that in February 2020 the court of appeals attempted to block the plans as they go against the 2015 Paris climate accord. Yes, growth is important, and yes, Britain needs to be competitive if we want to survive in an increasingly volatile global order. But can this environmental damage really be justified? In tacking right to prioritise the economy and attempting to block Reform’s gains, Labour are losing themselves. It should be no surprise that Nigel Farage’s party stand firmly in favour of the third runway. Already Labour have abandoned their plans for a ‘green new deal’ and watered down net zero commitments, but the wash of political chaos means that such decisions, alongside the decision to support the third runway at Heathrow, don’t get nearly enough media attention as they would have five years ago. The British people need to go back to truly caring about climate, and Labour need to remember what they stand for, rather than just merging into another centre right party that will replace the crumbling conservatives. The go-ahead for Heathrow expansion symbolises both a lost Labour party and a global lack of care for the environment, and these are both things that cannot continue if we want to preserve our planet and better this country.