Andy Slaughter Reaffirms Opposition to Heathrow Expansion

Hammersmith and Chiswick MP says economic case has been overstated

Andy Slaughter (left) has been a consistent opponent of Heathrow expansion

August 20, 2025

Andy Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick, has issued a strongly worded critique of Heathrow Airport’s latest expansion plans, describing the proposed third runway as “the wrong answer to the wrong question.”

In his article for LabourList published this Wednesday (20 August), he argues that the economic rationale for expansion is overstated, while the environmental, financial, and human costs are dangerously underplayed.

Mr Slaughter’s opposition to a bigger airport at Heathrow is long-standing. He resigned from Labour’s front bench in 2009 over similar plans and has consistently campaigned against Heathrow growth, citing the impact on west London communities, public health, and climate targets. His constituency lies directly under the flight path, and he has worked closely with local campaign groups such as HACAN and No 3rd Runway to resist expansion efforts.

The renewed proposals submitted in August 2025 include a 3,500m north-western runway, a new Terminal T5X, and three satellite terminals, with a projected capacity of 756,000 flights annually. The £49 billion scheme would also involve tunnelling the M25 and upgrading surface transport links, with potential public costs of up to £15 billion. Heathrow claims the project is privately financed, but the MP warns that most of the funding will come from debt, leading to a 17% increase in landing charges and higher fares for passengers.

Mr Slaughter also highlights the social toll: nearly 800 homes could be demolished, and thousands more rendered uninhabitable due to noise and pollution. He notes that 28% of all Europeans affected by aircraft noise already live under Heathrow’s flight paths.

With Labour leadership backing the expansion as a growth strategy, his intervention underscores internal party divisions on the matter. He calls for a shift away from carbon-intensive mega-projects and urges investment in sustainable transport and regional connectivity instead. As the government prepares to assess the proposals under the Airports National Policy Statement, his message, that he believes Heathrow’s expansion is neither viable nor justifiable in the face of climate imperatives and community wellbeing, is clear.