Statement by the Gatwick Coordination Group of MPs on the Airports Commission

Speaking on behalf of the Gatwick Coordination Group of MPs (listed below), Nick Herbert said:

"Let's stop pretending that the Airports Commission offered ministers options - it didn’t.  The Commission made an unequivocal recommendation for Heathrow.  It said that Gatwick would deliver half the economic benefit, has insufficient transport connections especially to the north, and would fail to provide the hub airport which Britain needs.

“Keeping a sub-optimal choice of Gatwick alive just so as to delay an inevitable decision on Heathrow blights local communities, helps no-one and risks reflecting badly on us.

"Five months have now elapsed since the Commission produced its report.  We can’t credibly talk about a long-term economic plan, or taking decisions in the national interest, if we then run away from the big tests.

"The Government set up this Commission.  The recommendation is clear.  It’s time to get on with it”.

See also: http://www.nickherbert.com/news.php/680/mp-urges-government-to-implement-airports-commission-recommendation

Gatwick Coordination Group Members: 

Crispin Blunt MP (Reigate) (Chairman)
Sir Paul Beresford MP (Mole Valley) 
Nusrat Ghani MP (Wealden) 
The Rt Hon Nick Herbert MP (Arundel and South Downs) 
Henry Smith MP (Crawley) 
The Rt Hon Sir Nicholas Soames MP (Mid Sussex)
Tom Tugendhat MP (Tonbridge and Malling) 
Jeremy Quin MP (Horsham)