Burnham refuses to say whether he backs third runway at Heathrow

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declined to say whether he supports plans to build a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport, saying the decision should take account of the consultation and strong views on both sides.

Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg at the start of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Mr Burnham said the issue was “principally” a matter for London and Londoners.

“It’s not right for me to just jump straight in on the back of the consultation,” he said. He later added: “I think it’s right that we hear what people have said through the consultation, and then consider the way forward from there.”

He subsequently told LBC Radio that he was “reticent” to express a view because the proposal was subject to a live consultation and could involve a planning application. He said there were “quite strong views on either side” and that the issues needed to be considered “independently” and “fairly”.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged that the proposal was “not just a matter for London”, despite previously describing it as principally an issue for the capital.

The Government under his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, supported the project as a means of promoting economic growth. Former chancellor Rachel Reeves announced Labour’s backing in January 2025 and said the project could create 100,000 jobs.

Several ministers have continued to support the expansion. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said there was a “trade argument” for the project, pointing to the growth of cities in Asia that currently had no direct link to the UK. He said the country would need “a global top-tier airport”.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said an expanded Heathrow could become “the country’s front door” for tourists from China and India. Economic growth minister Dan Tomlinson also backed the plan, saying he was “very pro-Heathrow expansion”.

Treasury minister James Murray told the Press Association that a third runway would make the UK “stronger” by supporting jobs, trade, investment and economic growth. He said the proposal affected the whole country, not only London and west London communities near the airport.

Mr Murray said the Government was reviewing consultation responses and would set out its response shortly.

The scheme is estimated to cost £33 billion, including £1.5 billion to move the M25, and is expected to be fully privately financed. It would increase Heathrow’s capacity to 756,000 flights and 150 million passengers a year.

The airport had previously been expected to open the runway in 2035, but airport bosses have told ministers that timetable appears impossible to meet. Heathrow aims to secure planning permission by 2029 and considers construction within a decade of that point to be a reasonable goal.