MP-Direct Action Fear

2.27.25pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 19th Aug 2003

Sarah Ludford MEP with Susan Kramer on "No 3rd Runway" march

Dr. Jenny Tonge, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park has expressed her deep frustration over press reports that Secretary of State Alistair Darling will bow to Treasury pressure and give the go-ahead to a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Reports in the Economist magazine and elsewhere have speculated that the Treasury favours a third runway at Heathrow "because more people want to fly there" and that Mr Darling is unlikely to oppose the Treasury's lead.

The MP said: "I remain totally opposed to further expansion at Heathrow. Mr Darling must not bow to Treasury pressure on this - for environmental reasons and for safety reasons the expansion of Heathrow has got to stop."

"What do the people of South-west London have to do to be heard? We have tried every form of reasoned argument, including going to the European Court of Human Rights over night flights. Nothing seems to make any difference."

"I am the most law-abiding of citizens, but when Government will not listen, my fear is that people will take the law into their own hands and take some kind of direct action. Access to Heathrow is already so poor that it would take only a few determined individuals to make it well-nigh impossible."