Labour MPs who back airport in Kashmir oppose Heathrow expansion
Six of the Labour MPs campaigning for a new airport to be built in Kashmir previously voted against the expansion of Heathrow.
A total of 20 MPs and peers wrote to Sir Keir Starmer last week urging him to lend his support to the construction of an international airport in Mirpur.
Their calls for the new development in the disputed territory on the Indian subcontinent led to a backlash from Tory frontbenchers, who told them to 'focus on the UK'.
An analysis by the News Hub Group website showed that six of the letter's Labour signatories voted against a third runway at Heathrow in the Commons in 2018.
They were Debbie Abrahams, James Frith, Imran Hussain, Mohammad Yasin, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan and Yasmin Qureshi.
Setting out her opposition in June 2018, Dr Allin-Khan said: 'I've used Heathrow, it's a great airport, but I can't support a vote to build a third runway there.
'The environmental impact will harm my children, my grandchildren and generations to come. I'll be urging others to vote the same way.'
When a third runway was backed earlier this year by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, Dr Allin-Khan confirmed she was still opposed to the idea.
boost growth, I can't support it. The impact it will have on residents under the flight path cannot be ignored.'
None of the other MPs who voted against the Heathrow expansion in 2018 have commented on Ms Reeves's support for another runway.
On Monday, the Prime Minister's official spokesman confirmed Sir Keir did not have a view on the airport.
Among those leading the push for a new Kashmir airport is Tahir Ali, the Labour MP for Birmingham, who was not an MP at the time of the last parliamentary vote on Heathrow.
In his letter to Sir Keir, Mr Ali said: 'There has been a long-standing promise for an international airport in Mirpur, which has yet to be met.
'This causes significant issues to a number of my constituents, who are having to drive over three hours to get to the nearest airport in Pakistan.'
Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said the letter was a 'damning failure of integration'.
'Labour MPs think we shouldn't expand our airports for environmental reasons, but other countries should,' Mr Jenrick said.
'Their rank hypocrisy is subverting the UK's interests.'
Mr Ali was further criticised for spending time campaigning on the airport rather than focusing on the bin strike crisis in Birmingham, where he is an MP for Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley.
The strike is in its third week and conditions are continuing to deteriorate, with experts warning that conditions are a 'huge public health danger'.
Zarah Sultana, who currently sits as an independent after her suspension by Labour over the two-child benefit cap last year, also put her name to the letter.
This was despite calling Sir Keir and Ms Reeves's support for a third Heathrow runway 'reckless, short-sighted and indefensible', going on to call it 'a complete U-turn at the expense of local communities and the planet'.
The 20-strong group of MPs and peers are appealing to both Sir Keir and the Pakistani government.
They noted in their letter to the Prime Minister that successive leaders of Pakistan have committed to development projects including an international airport.
Mirpur is one of the districts of Kashmir that is under Pakistani control. Other areas of the region are administered by India and China respectively.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
39 minutes ago
- Metro
UK council apologises over Union flag row with Primary School
A council has apologised after a politician demanded to know why a school suggested the Union flag could be 'sectarian'. Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw slammed Cross Arthurlie Primary School in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, after they issued a letter to parents about flags which had caused 'upset' at a recent event for school leavers. Headteacher Fiona McDonald said the use of the flag had caused issues at the school, but Carlaw branded the move 'totally unacceptable and deeply offensive'. In the letter, Ms McDonald said: 'Unfortunately, the use of the Union flag with some staff images on caused some upset at the beginning of the evening. 'As a school, we promote inclusion and acceptance, actively working against potentially offensive or sectarian messaging. 'Although we recognise this was not the intent, we are concerned that others within or beyond the school community may consider that this is something we would encourage.' Ms McDonald added that she had spoken to the children about why it wasn't a good idea, and how different flags and symbols mean different things to people. 'I hope this helps everyone understand where mistakes have been made and we can move on enjoying the rest of the end of term celebrations,' she added. But Carlaw, MSP for East Renfrewshire, wrote: 'I am both angry and concerned to learn that an official letter (now confirmed as genuine) issued by the head teacher of a primary school in East Renfrewshire has suggested the use of the Union Flag amounts to 'sectarian messaging'. 'Let me be clear – to equate the Union Flag with sectarianism is totally unacceptable and deeply offensive to people both locally and across Scotland. As a start, the council must issue an unconditional apology. 'Our national flag is not up for debate – it is a symbol of our tradition, unity as a nation and hope for so many.' More Trending The school was previously praised by inspectors who described pupils as 'highly motivated to learn and achieve'. According to the Scottish Parliament, the Saltire (Scottish Flag) should be flown in the 'superior' position, followed by the Union flag. There are no laws restricting the flying of either flag, but tradition stipulates the Saltire flies above the Union flag. Schools are not required to fly any flags. The report described pupils as 'polite, confident, articulate' and 'proud of their school and demonstrate the school values very well.' East Renfrewshire Council said: 'It was not the school's intention to imply the Union flag is sectarian and both the head teacher and the council apologise for any offence and upset that has been caused to pupils, parents and carers and the wider community. 'All educational establishments in East Renfrewshire should be spaces that are focused on learning, unity, and pride in a diverse British society. We expect our schools to foster an ethos of respect for diverse perspectives and national identity.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: 'I won the National Lottery – this is what I now do day to day' MORE: This 'soulless' UK town is being knocked down and locals are surprisingly on board MORE: Search suspended for passenger who fell overboard from Scottish ferry
Powys County Times
39 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Legislation to decriminalise abortion for women clears the Commons
Legislation which would see abortion decriminalised for women terminating their own pregnancies has cleared the Commons. MPs voted 312 to 95, majority 217 to approve the Crime and Policing Bill at third reading on Wednesday. This comes after the Commons backed Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi's amendment, which will remove the threat of 'investigation, arrest, prosecution or imprisonment' of any woman who acts in relation to her own pregnancy. The issue was treated as a matter of conscience, with MPs given a free vote and the Government remaining neutral. Downing Street said the change to abortion laws must be 'workable and safe', following Tuesday's verdict. MPs voted 379 to 137, majority 242, to back Ms Antoniazzi's amendment. A No 10 spokesman said: 'We'll look at this in detail, considering whether any changes are necessary to make it workable and safe. But, of course, this would not change the intent of the amendment passed.' The spokesman added: 'As with all laws, the Government has a responsibility to ensure it is safe and workable.' The Bill will now undergo further scrutiny in the House of Lords. It will also introduce a two-step verification process for the sale of knives and crossbows purchased online, and greater protections for emergency workers from racial and religious abuse during house calls are also included in the Bill. Speaking during report stage on Tuesday, Ms Antoniazzi said she pushed for the change in the law after cases of women being investigated by police over suspected illegal abortions. The Gower MP said: 'This is the right change at the right time. I implore colleagues who want to protect women and girls and abortion services to vote for new clause one. 'Let's ensure that not a single desperate woman ever again is subject to traumatic, criminal investigation at the worst moments in their lives.' Medics or others who facilitate an abortion after the 24-week time limit could still face prosecution if the change becomes law. Though the Government took a neutral stance on the vote, several Cabinet ministers were among the MPs who backed the amendment. They included Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, Defence Secretary John Healey, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, Environment Secretary Steve Reed, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn, Scotland Secretary Ian Murray, Wales Secretary Jo Stevens and Commons Leader Lucy Powell. Kemi Badenoch and many members of the Conservative front bench voted against it but shadow education secretary Laura Trott voted in favour. Abortion in England and Wales currently remains a criminal offence unless with an authorised provider up to 24 weeks into a pregnancy, with very limited circumstances allowing one after this time, such as when the mother's life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability. It is also legal to take prescribed medication at home if a woman is under 10 weeks pregnant.
The Independent
42 minutes ago
- The Independent
A political blame game over HS2 failures – but who is right?
Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, was determined to blame the Conservatives when she announced that what is left of the High Speed Two rail project will be delayed again. 'I have to be honest,' she told the Commons on Wednesday, 'this is an appalling mess.' She demanded that Gareth Bacon, her mild-mannered Conservative shadow, apologise, saying that his party had promised people 'the Moon on a stick' but had left a 'shambles' for Labour to sort out. She said: 'Years of mismanagement and neglect have turned HS2 into a shadow of that vision put forward 15 years ago, but this government were elected on a mandate to restore trust to our politics, and that is why we will not shirk away from this challenge and why today we turn the page on infrastructure failures.' Was this foreseeable from the start? I remember being in Andrew Adonis 's office when he was secretary of state for transport in 2009. He was his usual hyper-enthusiastic self as he showed me a map on the wall of his plan for a second high-speed railway in Britain. He was so excited about it, and only briefly crestfallen when I said that I thought it was a bad idea. I asked why it would not simply increase the gravitational pull of London, and add to economic bias to the South East. He brushed aside such concerns, declaring that, on the contrary, HS2 would push economic development outwards from the capital and spread the benefits to the whole country – a full decade before Boris Johnson popularised the term 'levelling up'. What I should have said, I now realise, is that it was bound to cost much more than he expected, because he would be trying to put the first new rail route through England since the population had achieved modern levels of density and modern levels of litigiousness. But did it have to be mismanaged so badly? It could have been managed better. If only Adonis had remained in charge of it, I think it would have been managed better, despite being, in my view, fundamentally misconceived. I am in awe of Adonis's achievement. He was transport secretary for just 23 months at the end of a dying government, yet he managed to launch HS2 in that time with such momentum that the coalition government carried on with it. But it never had a messianic delivery leader after the change of government, so it trundled along like a late-running stopper under the default structures of the British constitution. There were seven transport secretaries in the 14 years of Conservative-led government, while the civil service contracted out the management to HS2 Ltd, which was responsible for cost overruns, delays and even fraud. Does anyone emerge with credit? It could be argued that Rishi Sunak did the right thing, rather late in the day, to try to curtail the excess and waste. He looked at the plans in some detail, concluded that the case for the line didn't add up, and took the difficult decision to cut losses and cancel the northern leg. According to the House of Commons Library, the costs for the first phase, from London to Birmingham, had already risen from an estimate in 2012 of £20.5bn (in 2019 prices) to an estimate at the beginning of last year of £56bn (still in 2019 prices). The library commented drily: 'Cost increases have been driven by high inflation, as well as scope changes, worse ground conditions than expected, and optimism bias.' It didn't even mention bat tunnels. Is the project under control now? Of course not, although if the delay to completion of Phase 1 is only from 2033 to 2035 that would not be too bad – 2033 was the target completion date when Adonis launched the project in 2010. But the final part of the route in London, to Euston station, which is important to the success of the line, has not been decided yet, and will depend on private-sector investment in the property above and around the route. One of the possible hopeful signs, however, is that Alexander has relevant experience as deputy mayor of London responsible for transport. She has worked with Mark Wild and Mike Brown, the new chief executive and chair of HS2. 'Mark and Mike were part of the team, with me, that turned Crossrail into the Elizabeth line; we have done it before and we will do it again,' she told MPs.
