CAMPAIGNERS against plans to expand Stansted Airport claim the Government is “flogging a dead horse”.

Carol Barbone, campaign director for Stop Stansted Expansion, spoke out after an influential group of MPs said the case had not been made for building a second runway at the Essex airport.

The House of Commons Transport Committee said the Government should consider having another runway at Gatwick instead, if it felt one was needed.

Mrs Barbone said: “It should by now be clear to the Government and BAA they are flogging a dead horse. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find anyone these days who still believes there is a logical case to be made for a second Stansted runway.”

The committee’s report, the Future of Aviation, published this week, says: “Whereas most of our witnesses were clear about the need for expansion of Heathrow, they were less exercised about a second runway at Stansted.

“While some local authorities, such as Manchester Council, have backed local airport expansion strongly on economic development grounds, this does not appear to be the case with Stansted.

“Outside London and the southeast of England, runway capacity issues are less critical.

“We are not convinced a national case for an additional runway at Stansted has been made.”

The report said Stansted is likely to remain a “low-cost carrier-dominated leisure airport” and a second runway is unlikely to be completed before 2019, due to delays in arriving at a final decision, coupled with the recession and falling passenger numbers.

The restriction on an extra runway at Gatwick expires in 2019 and the Government “should reconsider whether the additional runway, if required, should be located at Gatwick rather than Stansted.”

David Johnston, Stansted Airport’s managing director, said: “We welcome the committee’s support for aviation and its crucial role in the UK economy and in the lives of many residents and visitors.

“We note the comments that a national case for the second runway at Stansted is yet to be made. This is precisely the role of the forthcoming public inquiry where all of the issues of the proposed expansion, based on the facts and strengths of evidence presented will be heard.”

l Members of Stop Stansted Expansion joined forces with around 40,000 people for a climate change rally.

They were in London as part of the Wave, a giant march urging the Government to press for a strong and meaningful deal at this week’s climate talks in Copenhagen.