Minister who QUIT to vote against Heathrow runway mocks Boris Johnson for fleeing the UK ahead of Commons showdown as May is accused of FIXING the result

• Crunch vote on Heathrow is due to be held in the House of Commons tomorrow 
• One minister already quit over project but Boris Johnson will be out of country
• Theresa May accused of a fix by holding the vote before critical climate report
• Jeremy Corbyn is giving his MPs free vote to avoid an embarrassing rebellion 

A minister who dramatically quit to vote against Heathrow expansion mocked Boris Johnson today for fleeing the country rather than sticking to his principles.

Greg Hands pointedly tweeted that he had arrived back in the UK to fulfil his 'commitment' to oppose the third runway project in the Commons.

In a barely-veiled swipe at Mr Johnson - who once vowed to 'lie down in front of bulldozers' to prevent the project - Mr Hands said he 'wouldn't want to miss' the showdown tomorrow night.

Meanwhile, Theresa May has been accused of trying to fix the Heathrow vote by forcing MPs to take a decision before a crucial environmental report is released.

The Prime Minister is braced for a nervy Commons showdown tomorrow, with the potential for more political fireworks.

The government is likely to win the vote comfortably, as Labour has offered MPs a free vote - despite the leadership opposing the plans - and the SNP are in favour.

But there could be a significant political cost for Mrs May, who has decided to enforce a three-line whip on Tory MPs. 

Rather than follow the orders, international trade minister Greg Hands quit last week.

His resignation put pressure on Mr Johnson and other potential airport rebels to follow suit. 

Sources said Mr Hands, the Tory MP for Chelsea and Fulham, was offered the opportunity to skip the Commons debate by arranging an overseas trip.

But he insisted he had to honour pledges made in election leaflets last year in which he vowed to fight the plans. 

By contrast, Mr Johnson will fly out of the country, avoiding the need to resign.

Mr Hands tweeted this afternoon: 'Great to arrive back in the UK at Luton Airport in time for the match today and to vote against #Heathrow expansion tomorrow. I wouldn’t want to be abroad for either of those. #commitments.'  

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) assessment is thought to conclude that the UK's hopes of meeting greenhouse gas reduction targets will be dashed.

Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said the situation was 'outrageous'. 

'MPs will be voting in ignorance of the key facts about emissions from aviation. It's a free vote but I am recommending all Labour MPs oppose Heathrow expansion,' he told the Sunday Times. 

The Foreign Secretary is a long-standing opponent of Heathrow's expansion and said in 2015 he would 'lie in front of bulldozers' to prevent the construction work.

However, Foreign Office sources confirmed he would be travelling to an unspecified destination instead of voting on the £14billion scheme.

One Tory MP said: 'Boris may not be lying down in front of a bulldozer, but he's lied in a different way. Greg has put him in a very difficult position.

'He looks worse than a chicken. The message he's sending out is that you can't rely on a word he says. It is very damaging for him.'

Mrs May appeared to mock her Foreign Secretary last week by claiming he would be the 'embodiment of Global Britain' during the vote.

The PM said: 'The Government is absolutely committed to increasing airport capacity. This is important, it is part of our future as Global Britain.

'The Foreign Secretary early next week will be the living embodiment of Global Britain. He will be out there showing the UK's continued presence around the world.' 

Former education secretary Justine Greening said the departure of Mr Hands proved Mrs May should have allowed Tory MPs a free vote. 

She added: 'It's wrong that Greg Hands had to resign for being consistent in representing local community concerns on Heathrow. The Government unnecessarily lost a great minister when instead we could have had a free vote.' 

London mayor Sadiq Khan has vowed to keep fighting the Heathrow project even if it is passed by the Commons.

Mr Khan has said he will join legal action against the runway if Parliament approves it.

Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said expanding the airport was crucial to seize the 'opportunities' of Brexit. 

Mr Holland-Kaye, who backed Remain in the referendum two years ago, told the Sunday Telegraph: 'I campaigned for Remain but Brexit is happening and we have to look for the opportunities.

'It's very easy to focus on all the problems but we've got to have a plan to become a great, outwardlooking, trading nation.'

He said the idea of 'global Britain' made no sense without a third runway. 

'Heathrow is a real Brexit bonus,' he said. 

'We can start to open up China ... places I can barely pronounce but are as big as London.

'We could be the connecting point between these places and North America and that's an amazing place to be.'