Miliband accused by Cabinet colleague of ‘false trade-offs' in airport row
Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, said she would 'never accept' that building new runways was in competition with meeting environmental targets set by the Energy Secretary.
Ms Alexander's remarks will fuel speculation that a third airport will receive Labour's blessing for its expansion plans.
Earlier this year, the Government backed Gatwick and Heathrow's plans to build extra runways, while a deadline for Ms Alexander to give or withhold permission for Luton Airport to expand is due on April 3.
Prioritising economic growth over environmental protections has previously created tensions between the Treasury and Mr Miliband.
Speaking to senior executives at the AirportsUK trade association's annual dinner on Tuesday, Ms Alexander said: 'I will never accept the false trade-off that pits growing aviation against protecting our environment. I honestly believe we can and must do both.
'That underpinned my announcement a few weeks ago on Gatwick, where I set a clear path for expansion if certain conditions are met.
'And, of course, I'll be making an announcement on Luton very shortly.'
Gatwick is expected to receive permission to bring its emergency standby runway into routine use if it meets Government-imposed targets on the proportion of passengers who travel there by public transport, and on noise mitigation measures.
In remarks calculated to soothe the Mr Miliband's feelings, she added: 'Now, my job has to be balancing the economic benefits of expansion with our social and environmental commitments.'
Ms Alexander said that some major airports are 'bursting at the seams' because capacity issues in the South East were 'long-ignored' and 'too many people stuck their heads in the sand'.
Last year, Heathrow handled a record-breaking 83.9 million passengers, as well as recording seven million travellers passing through the airport during Christmas and New Year.
Luton Airport's proposal would involve expanding the single-runway airport's current terminal building and constructing a second terminal.
It would also require extending the Dart rail link to the second terminal, new taxiways – which connect the runway to terminals, hangars and other facilities – and parking facilities.
Mr Miliband has previously argued against expanding airports, claiming it would breach the green targets he has set.
Although he described the suggestion that he would resign after the Government backed Heathrow's third runway as 'ridiculous', the Energy Secretary is well known to prefer environmental targets over growth.
In January, he promised that the UK will slash its climate emissions by more than 60 per cent by 2035, in a move seen as risking direct conflict with the plans of Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, to drive economic growth through approving airport expansion.
Mr Miliband told the UN that the UK will cut its emissions, including from aviation, from 393m tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2023 to 155m tonnes in 2035 – a 61 per cent reduction.
Meanwhile, Ms Reeves has claimed airport expansion will not clash with Britain's net-zero goals, arguing that so-called sustainable aviation fuels, made from sources such as recycled vegetable oil, will help to cut aviation's carbon footprint.
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