Slough MP Fiona Mactaggart backs Heathrow third runway

The Labour MP for Slough has said there should be a third runway at Heathrow despite the party having abandoned its plans for the development.

MP Fiona Mactaggart said extra capacity was needed to help jobs in the area but added expansion could only go ahead if the railways were electrified.

The previous Labour government devised the plans but the party is now against them.

In August the coalition government said it remained opposed to the idea.

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats ruled out a third runway at Heathrow in their 2010 general election manifestos.

'Bite the bullet'

Ms Mactaggart said one in 10 jobs in Slough directly depended on Heathrow.

"What we need to do is to vote for jobs and if that's a third runway - and I think it is - then I will back the third runway," she said.

"But we can only have it if we electrify the railway so we can improve air quality.

"I think we are going to have to bite the bullet otherwise what we will do is condemn a lot of local families to poverty."

Conservative MP for Windsor, Adam Afriyie, has vowed to fight "tooth and nail" against plans for a third runway.

He said: "We need greater airport capacity in the South East, but a short third runway at Heathrow does not solve the problem.

"It does not make economic sense and it would unnecessarily reduce the quality of life for millions of people with congestion, pollution and noise."