Drop support for Heathrow third runway, Scottish Government told

Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to drop the Scottish Government’s support of a third runway at Heathrow in the same week the Supreme Court ruled plans could go ahead.

The Scottish Government has been urged to withdraw support for a third runway at Heathrow

The Scottish Government entered a memorandum of understanding with the airport in 2016, backing the expansion as long as Scotland sees economic benefits from the project.

The controversial plans for the expansion took a step further this week with the ruling the owners of the airport could apply for planning permission. However, the final say will remain with the UK Government.

During First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie asked Nicola Sturgeon: “Can the First Minister explain why building this runway would be good for the climate or is she finally ready to drop her support for this deeply irresponsible project?”

Ms Sturgeon said: “This is not a decision for the Scottish Government.

“I am very clear that we have a responsibility to meet our own climate change targets.

“We, unlike some other governments, include aviation emissions.”

Ms Sturgeon went on to say there was a question mark over the new runway as more focus was put on the need to reduce emissions and stop climate change.

She said: “I think there is a big question over new runways at a time when all of us are focused on making sure that we reduce emissions and become net-zero, in our case by 2045.

“We will focus on making sure right across transport, how we heat our homes and buildings and the continued work we’re doing around electricity for example, that we are meeting those targets.”

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