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Sun, 27 Sep 2026

Sun, 27 Sep 2026 Andy Burnham refuses to back third runway at Heathrow

Andy Burnham said he would wait for the results of a consultation on a scheme estimated to cost £33bn
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declined to comment on whether he supports a third runway at Heathrow Airport, which could be delayed by up to four years due to complications in the planning process. The expansion project, estimated to cost £33 billion, aims to boost economic growth and create 100,000 jobs, but faces opposition from environmental campaigners, local residents, and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. Burnham, who as Mayor of Greater Manchester opposed the third runway, said that "local voices must be heard" and that a decision on the project should be made after consulting with Londoners. In contrast, former Chancellor Rachel Reeves has championed the expansion to boost the economy, but Heathrow Airport has indicated that it may not meet its original deadline of 2035 and could open as late as 2039.