1:00pm Thursday 2nd October 2008
Campaigners opposed to the expansion of Stansted have welcomed Conservative leader David Cameron’s confirmation of his party’s opposition to a second runway at the Essex airport.
Mr Cameron made his announcement during a television interview at the Conservative Party’s conference in Birmingham – reiterating his party’s stance, first announced in March last year.
He said: “We’ve never supported plans for a second runway at Stansted. What we support is the high-speed rail link option from London to Birmingham and Manchester, which we think would radically reduce the number of internal flights and take the pressure off airport expansion.”
Stop Stansted Expansion campaign director Carol Barbone, its campaign director, said: “The Conservatives have long acknowledged that Stansted, as a leisure airport, is not of any strategic importance to the UK economy. Nevertheless, to have confirmation from the party leader is highly significant for our campaign".
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