31-03-2025
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.
