British MPs have voted in favour of building a new runway at London's Heathrow Airport paving the way for the airport's expansion after decades of delays and policy U-turns.
A sign in the village of Longford opposing Heathrow expansion, pictured as a BA aircraft prepares to land at the west London airport. Photo: AFP
Some MPs opposed the potential for extra noise and air pollution in London, while others argued the development would boost Britain in a post-Brexit world.
Conservative MPs were under orders to support the government, though Boris Johnson, a leading opponent of expansion, missed the vote because he was in Afghanistan.
The vote was welcomed by business group the CBI as "a truly historic decision that will open the doors to a new era in the UK's global trading relationships".
Greenpeace UK said it was ready to join a cross-party group of London councils and the city's mayor, Sadiq Khan, in a legal challenge against a third runway.
And Friends of the Earth said in a statement: "MPs who backed this climate-wrecking new runway will be harshly judged by history.
"The evidence on the accelerating climate crisis, which is already hitting the world's most vulnerable people, is overwhelming - and expanding Heathrow will only intensify the misery."
'Human costs'
In an impassioned speech in parliament, Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell warned that villages that had existed for 1000 years would be "wiped off the face of the earth" to enable a company to maximise its profits.
He told MPs to remember the name of Harmondsworth resident Armelle Thomas, whose late husband Tommy arrived in the UK during World War Two to "fight for this country against fascism" by flying planes for the RAF.
His home that he built up with Armelle is in the centre of what will be the runway itself," Mr McDonnell said.
"There are human costs to this decision that this House needs to recognise and contemplate before they vote tonight to worry and blight my community once again on a programme that will never - pardon the pun - take off."
His speech was backed by Richmond Park Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith and Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable, who represents Twickenham, both of whom raised concerns about the environment, the cost and alleged financial benefits of the scheme.
The government has pledged the airport will be built at no cost to the taxpayer, will create 100,000 jobs and will benefit the entire country, through guaranteed internal flights to the rest of the UK.
Ministers also insist the project will have built-in environmental protections, with the ability to fine Heathrow or ground aircraft if promises on night flights and other contentious issues are broken.
An independent review in 2015 recommended a new runway at Heathrow as the best option to address the need for extra capacity in the south of England. The Department for Transport has previously said no expansion would mean London's five airports would be full by 2034.
- BBC / Reuters