Theresa May could face rebellion from Boris Johnson over plans to order three-line whip over Heathrow third runway vote 

  • Theresa May faces rebellion from at least 30 MPs over the controversial runway 
  • The Prime Minister could impose a three-line whip for the vote later this month
  • However, it is feared Boris Johnson could ignore the whip and vote against her 

Boris Johnson could be forced to rebel against Theresa May if she decides to whip a vote on a controversial third runway at Heathrow, it was claimed.

Even though politicians are usually given a free vote on infrastructure issues, the Prime Minister could impose a three-line whip to ensure her MPs attend the vote on the much-debated runway later this month.

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At least 30 Conservative MPs could rebel against Mrs May and vote against the proposed third runway if given a free vote.

But if Mrs May does impose the whip on the vote, MPs such as Boris Johnson could be forced to vote against the government.

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Theresa May could impose a controversial three-line whip on the runway vote later this month
It is feared at least 30 MPs could go against Mrs May if they received a free vote on the topic

Mr Johnson, who was appointed Foreign Secretary by Mrs May, was elected MP for Uxbridge in 2015 and has been a fervent opponent of the third runway.

He has previously declared the project a ‘disaster’ and claimed he would lie down ‘in front of bulldozers’ if the plans did go ahead.

If Mrs May whips the vote, which will be held within 21 sitting days, the foreign secretary could resign if he rebels against the government.

Trade minister Greg Hands, who is MP for Chelsea and Fulham, is also in a precarious position as he has long opposed the runway.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the pair may be taken abroad on official business in order to circumvent a whipped vote.

The Prime Minister’s rumoured plans to whip the vote on Heathrow’s runway has attracted criticism from several senior Conservative MPs.

Former education secretary Justine Greening told the Daily Telegraph: ‘I hope that the Government honours the commitment it made previously to have a free vote. A lot of MPs who fundamentally believe this is a bad thing will be left with no choice but to vote against a Government whip.’

A senior Tory, who is also against the third runway, told the paper: ‘It would be a serious mistake, Boris and Greg would be left with no choice but to have to resign. It would be an act of self-harm by the Government.’

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In March, transport secretary Chris Grayling said work on a third runway could begin within three years.

Chris Grayling predicted that if Parliament backs the expansion, the project will start around December 2020 - when the Brexit transition period ends.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that this relies on planning consent being given by the time the UK formally leaves the EU in March 2019.

Even if Theresa May does impose a three-line whip, Boris Johnson could rebel against the party line

Plans published in January also showed how the M25 could be moved into a tunnel below a third runway.

They would see the motorway shifted 150 metres west - and lowered by seven metres.

The runway would be raised between three and five metres, and pass overhead. The consultation document also suggests the runway could be cut by 300 metres to 3,200 metres long. However, it does not set out exact flight paths informing residents where noise will be concentrated.

MPs are expected to vote on the plans - first proposed as long ago as 2003 - later this year.

The airport expects the total cost to be around £14billion, some £2.8billion less than originally suggested.

Planners have also set out suggestions for changes to terminals. Terminal 2 could be extended to the east, Terminal 5 to the west or a new ‘satellite’ could be built near the runway.

The third runway was due to cost about £16.8 billion, but Heathrow claims it can complete the project for £14 billion. The airport insists that landing charges - currently around £22 per passenger -

will remain ‘close to today’s levels’.Airlines had expressed concerns that the fees could be hiked to fund works.

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Willie Walsh, the boss of British Airways’ parent company IAG, has urged the Government to make Heathrow provide a detailed breakdown of its costs to ensure passengers are not ripped off. After years of setbacks, the Department for Transport says it is on track to publish final proposals in the first half of the year ready for a vote in Parliament.

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