Biggest rebellion on an opposition motion since Labour came to power in 1997. At the end of the debate in the House of Commons yesterday on Heathrow expansion the Government’s majority was slashed by two-thirds. It scraped home by a mere 19 votes. If 8 Democratic Unionists had voted with the opposition parties instead of the Government, Labour’s majority would have been down to one. As it was, this was the biggest rebellion on an opposition motion since Labour came to power in 1997.
Two Labour MPs, Andy Slaughter and Virendra Sharma, resigned from their junior ministerial posts in opposition to the Government’s plans for a 3rd runway.
John Stewart, the Chair of HACAN, said, “This vote is another nail in the coffin for the Government’s plans to build a 3rd runway. It becomes less likely by the day that the runway will ever be built.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). The London and South East Labour MPs who voted against the Government were Diane Abbott, Harry Cohen, Jeremy Corbyn, Frank Dobson, Kate Hoey, John McDonnell, Andrew Mackinlay, Bob Marshall-Andrews, Nick Raynsford, Martin Salter, Virendra Sharma, Andrew Slaughter and Andrew Smith.
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John Stewart on 0207 737 6641; 07957385650