The airport operator BAA has bowed to opposition to a third runway at Heathrow airport. It will not submit a planning application before the general election and will not sign large contracts to "bounce" a future Conservative government into accepting it. Senior BAA figures have also told the Tories the company will cease to fight for the third runway if they form the next government.

Theresa Villiers, the shadow transport secretary, said: "Last week BAA conveyed to us at our party conference that it will not be submitting a planning application before the election. It seems BAA has woken up to the fact that we mean what we say on Heathrow and that if we win the general election there will be no third runway."

Labour pushed through the runway plan despite the opposition of Hilary Benn, the environment secretary, and Ed Miliband, the energy and climate secretary. Residents and campaigners accused ministers of sacrificing their green credentials to the aviation lobby.

Read the full article in The Sunday Times.


Yes, this is good news. But never forget that BAA is the company which promised no Terminal 5 and no third runway. Saying what it needs to say at the time to achieve its objective comes as easily to BAA as making up figures for the Department for Transport.

It also appears that BAA's push for the third runway is only on hold until the election. They will only cease the fight if the Conservatives win. Don't kid yourselves that BAA won't still be working ceaselessly with the DfT until then.

We will believe the campaign is over when all political parties state unequivocally that there will be no further expansion of Heathrow.