In response to reports that the decision on airport expansion has been delayed again, Crispin Blunt MP, chairman of the Gatwick Coordination Group of MPs, issued the following statement:

“This is a wholly unnecessary further delay and creates uncertainty. The two leading candidates for the Conservative leadership, Theresa May and Boris Johnson, would certainly not want to be seen as placing their constituency interests ahead of the national interest. Indeed, the Cabinet Secretary had already recused the Home Secretary from consideration of this by a cabinet committee. Boris Johnson has also assured me he wants the government to get on with the decision. I can’t believe the Home Secretary wouldn’t share that view.

“I understand this procrastination is also causing dismay in the Department for Transport who want to get on with this key infrastructure, as of course it does around Gatwick where residents want the shadow of this decision lifted. They have quite enough to put up with a failing rail service, which happens to be the main surface access route to Gatwick, further demonstrating why a decision for Gatwick is practically impossible.

“It’s perfectly clear Heathrow is the only option. No purpose is being served by not now saying so.”