Heathrow expansion puts net zero in 'serious jeopardy', Starmer warned

A new report has delivered a stark warning to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer: his government's support for Heathrow's third runway puts the UK's legally binding net zero targets in "serious jeopardy".

The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC), a cross-party group of MPs, has reignited the Labour party's long-running internal feud over the expansion project after ministers including Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave their backing to the controversial development.

Committee members have concluded that the government's stance creates an irreconcilable conflict between climate commitments and airport expansion. "The Government's backing for airport expansion would make it significantly harder for the UK to meet its net zero obligations," warned the report's authors.

The findings come as Starmer's government faces increasing pressure to demonstrate how it will reconcile economic growth with environmental promises. The third runway project has divided Labour MPs for years, with environmentalists arguing it would increase carbon emissions and undermine the UK's international climate leadership.

"This isn't just about airport capacity," said one committee member speaking anonymously. "It's about whether the UK can credibly claim to be a climate leader while approving massive infrastructure projects that directly contradict our net zero goals."

For the full analysis and reaction from industry leaders, read the original report at The Telegraph.