Back Heathrow supporters dressed as Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn on parliament square

The government and opposition parties should put party political squabbling to one side to help deliver the world’s biggest privately funded infrastructure project, says Back Heathrow.

Back Heathrow is a community group rooted in west London with over 100,000 supporters of a new runway at Heathrow Airport.

At an event in Parliament Square today, Back Heathrow campaign activists dressed as Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn congregated in front of giant poster of the House of Commons, replete with a runway bridging both sides of the political divide.

The event was attended by MPs from all sides of the House and by Back Heathrow’s Executive Director, Parmjit Dhanda.

Parmjit said: “This is a project that the Labour Party has backed under two Prime Ministers, now it has the support of a Conservative Prime Minister, the SNP, the DUP and over 100 Labour MPs.

“So it is crucial that MPs are not whipped to vote against this as part of a political game. That kind of behaviour has held back the creation of 180,000 jobs and billions in economic benefits for decades. Its time for all parties to come together, cut out the squabbling and do what’s right for our country.”

MPs from across the political divide supported the event, asked why they support Heathrow expansion:

Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay

“It’s about what is right for our country in terms of growing our economy and international trade. Local businesses in the South West see the benefit of a direct link to Heathrow, both in being able to export as well as enabling us to bring tourists in with a direct link to and from Heathrow.”

Gavin Shuker MP for Luton South

“It’s in the national interest to get Heathrow working, and working properly. I represent an airport constituency and in the South East the demand is massive. It’s the same for the whole country, so Parliament needs to get on and back Heathrow.”

UNITE the Union Members, Peter Kavanagh and our Director Parmjit

Members of the pro-expansion group Back Heathrow have joined forces with the UNITE union in calling on the Government to end the delay and get on with building a new runway.

Back Heathrow, a community campaign with 100,000 registered supporters predominantly residing in the communities around Heathrow, and UNITE, Britain’s biggest Trade Union, launched a new advertising campaign highlighting the new high-quality, high-skilled jobs and apprenticeships that will come from Heathrow expansion.

A new Heathrow runway will create up to 77,000 new local jobs and 5,000 new apprenticeships, as well as other economic benefits such as increased investment, better infrastructure and new trade routes.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has this week announced that the Government will hold a parliamentary vote on Heathrow expansion within the next few weeks.  

Peter Kavanagh, UNITE Regional Secretary for London, and the East of England, said: “Politicians can’t keep kicking the can down the road over a decision on Heathrow expansion – it’s time to make a positive decision in favour of a new runway.

“Working people in west London across the capital and right across the country stand to benefit from Heathrow expansion. They have been waiting far too long for Theresa May and Chris Grayling to put this project to a vote in the House of Commons and secure the quality, skilled jobs and opportunities that we desperately need.

“I urge London’s MPs to back local jobs for working people, and back this in a vote in Parliament”.

Back Heathrow’s Executive Director Parmjit Dhanda said: “I’m delighted that UNITE is giving such strong backing to the campaign to expand Heathrow and calling for MPs to vote to approve this vital project.

“Unite has a proud history of fighting for quality jobs, something Back Heathrow is delighted to support.

I am confident by combining the strength of our 100,000 local supporters with the might of a union like Unite our campaign can succeed”

Tim Roache (GMB General Secretary) pictured here with Parmjit Dhanda (Executive Director of Back Heathrow) and GMB members at a reception at the National Conference in Brighton.

Members of the pro-expansion group Back Heathrow have joined forces with the GMB trade union in calling on the Government to end the delay and get on with building a new runway.

Back Heathrow, a community campaign with 100,000 registered supporters predominantly residing in the communities around Heathrow, joined the GMB as it held its annual Congress in Brighton.

Heathrow expansion will create tens of thousands of new high-quality, high-skilled jobs and apprenticeships, as well as other economic benefits such as increased investment, better infrastructure and new trade routes.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has last week announced that the Government will hold a parliamentary vote on Heathrow expansion within the next few weeks.  

Back Heathrow’s Executive Director Parmjit Dhanda said: "It was great to be at the GMB's National Conference working alongside Tim Roache, the General Secretary of one of the most important trade unions in the UK and jointly backing the new runway proposals. Back Heathrow and the GMB share the same goals of new jobs and apprenticeships to boost the living standards of working people in west London, the Thames Valley and indeed across the country. The vote on expansion is a chance in a lifetime to create 180,000 new jobs."

Mick Rix, GMB National Officer said: “The time for politicians dithering and delaying on Heathrow is over. This long-awaited vote is crunch time for our members across the country who stand to benefit from Heathrow expansion.

“We’ve been waiting long enough for this Government to pull itself together and to put this plan to MPs and secure the future of the airport and the jobs it can and will support.”