John Healey, the current Chancellor, has stated there is a pro-growth case for approving a third runway at Heathrow Airport, despite Prime Minister Keir Starmer declining to explicitly back the project.
Healey said the government will study responses to a public consultation on the runway expansion. He framed airports as "big part of jobs and growth" in making his case for the development.
This position builds on earlier government statements. Rachel Reeves, Healey's predecessor as Chancellor, placed approval of the third runway at the center of her "growth speech" last year. Reeves argued the runway would "make Britain the world's best-connected place to do business."
The third runway has been a long-planned infrastructure project at London's busiest airport. Starmer's reluctance to fully endorse it contrasts with the economic arguments Healey and Reeves have presented in its favor.
The government indicated it would review public feedback before making a final decision on the expansion. Healey's remarks reaffirmed the economic rationale for the project while acknowledging that consultation responses would inform the government's approach. The timeline for a decision remains unclear, with the review of consultation responses forming the next step in the approval process.