Richard Burden MP, Shadow Transport Minister, responding to the revelation that the Prime Minister has written to her Cabinet advising that a ruling would be made on the issue of airport expansion in the south east in the winter of 2017-18, and that collective responsibility would be the suspended, said:

“Downing Street’s memo proves once again that Ministers are more concerned about managing divisions in the Conservative Party than tackling the vital issue of airport capacity. 

“There are differences of views in all parties on the Heathrow/Gatwick issue. We have all known that for years. But if the Cabinet are now going to be allowed to go their separate ways on this why could they not have decided to do that a year ago? It should never have been an excuse for delay after delay. 

“If Ministers had grasped this nettle this time last year, we could have been much further down the line on implementing a decision by now. As it is, uncertainty has reigned and the UK as a whole has been the loser. Labour has been clear from the outset about the four tests we will use to scrutinise to any decision the Government makes – whenever it is made.  But nobody can make the decision for them. We want to get on with our job of scrutiny. Ministers should get on with theirs.”