MPs with constituencies near airports could be excluded from runway decision
MPs whose constituencies are close to Heathrow or Gatwick may be excluded from having any input on the decision over where Britain's next runway is built.
The government is under pressure to ban the MPs from a parliamentary group led by Crispin Blunt, Conservative MP for Reigate.
The move comes as a final report is expected from Sir Howard Davies' Airports Commission, which will recommend whether Heathrow or Gatwick should get a new runway.
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Although the report is due to be published shortly, ministers are unlikely to provide a formal response until the end of the year.
Crispin Blunt MP, who heads the group of MPs whose constituencies are close to Gatwick, believes that such MPs with a constituency interest should not take part in the government's decision. He said:
As a national decision which needs to be taken in the national interest, arrangements should be in place to ensure that ministers with a constituency interest are not involved in the government's response and decision.
Such a move would exclude many MPs around the UK's capital, including Boris Johnson, who is known to oppose the construction of a third runway at Heathrow.