House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald says the Heathrow decision was "widely leaked" before Chris Grayling's statement, which he calls "unacceptable".

He says Labour recognises the need for airport expansion in the south east of England and welcomes that a decision has been made.

However, he also calls for the National Infrastructure Commission "to examine road and rail needs of airports outside the south east" and also calls for "better connectivity" to Stansted and Luton airports.

Mr McDonald also calls for more action on emissions and noise in the Heathrow area.

He suggests delays have been caused by cabinet splits and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson - who opposed a third runway when mayor of London - "threatening to throw himself under the bulldozers".

BBC Radio 4

London Mayor Sadiq Khan tells The World At One that Heathrow is "the wrong decision for London and for the whole of Britain".

He reminds us that he was elected on a position of opposing Heathrow expansion and the other candidates opposed it as well.

He says Heathrow expansion will be "devastating" for air quality across London.

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Emma Steel lives in the village of Harmondsworth and her house will be right on the new perimeter fence for the Heathrow expansion. 

She tells the World at One that she's "gutted" by the government's decision to allow a third runway. 

"I'm so sad, I've shed a few tears," she says. "I can't believe it, I can't believe they're actually doing this to us." 

A couple of responses from Business Live readers about the government's decision to back a third runway at Heathrow. Thanks for all the ones that have come in so far.

House of Commons
Parliament

Many MPs scoff noisily when Chris Grayling denies that the decision on Heathrow has been unnecessarily slowed down.

He says a consultation on the proposals will be led by former judge Sir Jeremy Sullivan.

Mr Grayling says the current proposal for a third runway is different to that proposed by the Labour government in 2009 - but does "much more to mitigate" environmental risks.

House of Commons
Parliament

Chris Grayling says Gatwick Airport "remains a key part of our transport infrastructure".

He insists that the government is not willing to expand Heathrow "at any cost to local people, to passengers and to industry".

Planning permission will not be granted if Heathrow's plans do not conform to the UK's obligations on air quality, while the transport secretary says a "six and a half hour ban on sheduled flights each night" will address concerns about noise.

There will be "£2.6bn of compensation" for local communities, including offering above market value for homes which will need to be demolished and noise insulation for schools.

House of Commons
Parliament

Chris Grayling says the government "agreed to accept" the recommendation for a new north west runway at Heathrow.

The government will bring forward a "draft national policy statement" in the new year - and only when MPs have voted on it will Heathrow be able to bring forward a planning application, he says.

But he adds: "If we do nothing the cost to our nation will be significant."

House of Commons
Parliament

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling begins his statement on airport expansion.

He says the Airports Commission reported that "we need more capacity in the south east" of England and a new runway at Heathrow was the best option.

Further work to study the best location for a third runway at Heathrow has concluded, he tells MPs.

"This is a momentous step for our country," he says.

Mr Grayling adds that he knows that many MPs "have strong convictions on this issue" but the decision is important for jobs and sends "a very clear message today that this country is open for business".

Image source, Getty Images

Airlines have welcomed the backing for a third runway at Heathrow, but warned that it must not result in higher costs for carriers and passengers.

Virgin Atlantic boss Craig Kreeger said passengers must not be "overburdened by paying for runways and facilities that won't be open until the mid-2020s". 

He described it as "an exciting, once-in-a-generation opportunity to radically transform airline competition at the UK's hub airport". 

Easyjet chief executive Carolyn McCall also welcomed the decision. 

She said the budget airline intends to operate from an expanded Heathrow if the costs are acceptable.

What would you like to know more about the government’s decision to award a third runway to Heathrow?

Our correspondent Susana Mendonca is taking your questions live on Facebook at 1415 BST.

https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews/, external

Image source, PA

Theresa May, who is MP for Maidenhead in Berkshire, said in 2008 the then Labour government's case for Heathrow expansion was "seriously flawed", and in 2009 she pledged to "fight to stop the third runway".

See what other MPs have said about the Heathrow expansion.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan says he is exploring how to support a legal challenge to the third runway at Heathrow.

“This is the wrong decision for London and the whole of Britain," he says.

Mr Khan, who backed a new runway at Gatwick, says the government must set out how it will limit the extra air and noise pollution. 

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has responded to the decision in favour of Heathrow. 

Image source, PA

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron says today's decision goes back on former Prime Minister David Cameron's pledge on Heathrow expansion.

“The ‘No Ifs, No Buts’ pledge from the Conservatives has been thrown by the wayside in the rush to bulldoze homes and build a new runway," Mr Farron says.

“The turbulence in the Conservative Party is nothing compared to the anger felt by those they have betrayed by giving up their commitment to the environment and communities in West London."

He criticises Theresa May, as well as Boris Johnson and Zac Goldsmith - who both still oppose a third runway - for failing to stop the decision.

Image source, Getty Images

British Airways says the public must benefit from a third runway at Heathrow, not just the airport's owners.

The cost of building the new runway shouldn't be passed onto airlines (and ultimately passengers) through more expensive landing charges, he says.

The government said in its decision that the charges should stay close to current levels - a "fundamental" move, according to Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways owner IAG

He said: "Heathrow want it, argued for it and now must ensure it’s the UK and the travelling public who get the benefits from the runway not the airport’s owners."

Image source, Getty Images

Ryanair, Europe's busiest airline, has said the government's "piecemeal approach" is damaging British tourism.

"Approving a third runway at Heathrow over Gatwick is not the way forward," chief executive Michael O'Leary has said. 

London currently benefits from three competing airports and airlines - British Airways, EasyJet and Ryanair.

The best decision would have been to "approve three additional runways - one each at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted", he said.

BBC News Channel

BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith says Zac Goldsmith, the MP for Richmond Park, has "indicated pretty firmly he will trigger a by-election. What we don't know is when."

He might do that shortly, or wait until parliament votes, which will be sometime next year, Norman says on BBC News.

Will local conservatives back Mr Goldsmith, or whoever the Conservative Party puts up?

"It has the potential to be extraordinarily messy and difficult," says Norman.

BBC business correspondent Theo Leggett, who is reporting from outside Gatwick Airport, tweets:

Simon Jack
BBC Business Editor

We have a long way to go before we see the proverbial shovels in the ground - there will be legal and planning challenges aplenty to come. 

From beating ourselves up for not being to build anything, the UK is suddenly building everything. Heathrow was chosen because of the extra boost it gives to the UK economy, but it is not the only mammoth project out there.

After a last-minute wobble, the £18bn Hinkley Point nuclear power station was given the green light, while the biggest project of them all is coming down the track fast.

Construction on the £42bn HS2 is scheduled to begin next year - and that is probably not all. Chancellor Philip Hammond has hinted he may reveal some moderate borrowing to fund targeted infrastructure spending in his Autumn Statement next month. 

It's enough to make the Victorians sit up and take notice.

The British Air Transport Association, which represents airlines, has welcomed the Heathrow announcement, but is worried about who will pay.

"Heathrow is the most expensive hub airport in the world - and airports are not funded by the taxpayer, but by passengers.

"Therefore any new infrastructure must be cost effective. We must ensure that it is affordable and that the price paid by customers does not increase. Today’s passengers must not pay for capacity that will not be operational until the mid-2020s."