Cabinet reshuffle puts Heathrow's third runway back on national agenda

A BRITISH cabinet reshuffle has removed Conservative Transport Secretary Justine Greening, a vociferous opponent to a third runway at London Heathrow, and brought the issue back on the table.

But reaction to Prime Minister David Cameron's first major cabinet reshuffle has already sparked fierce opposition to any attempt to rekindle plans to build a third Heathrow runway, reports BBC News.

Replaced by Conservative Party whip Patrick McLoughlin, Ms Greening has been moved to the foreign aid portfolio, and has said she would not serve in a cabinet if it were to approve a third runway, reported BBC News.

The changes in key personnel at the Department for Transport has re-ignited the fierce debate over whether there should be a third runway at Heathrow or a new hub airport built in the Thames Estuary, an option favoured by London Mayor Boris Johnson.

The reshuffle wasn't even complete when Mayor Johnson spoke out accusing ministers of being bent on a "simply mad" plan to expand Heathrow.

Mayor Johnson admitted that the prime minister's office is angry with him because they say he is critical of fellow Conservative, Mr Cameron.

The new chairman of the Conservative Party, Grant Shapps, said "all options" would be examined in the forthcoming consultation.

Transport Minister McLoughlin must now increase aviation capacity in the southeast, an issue that is non-negotiable for Liberal Democrats and many Conservatives who make up the governing coalition.

Mr McLoughlin, writing in the London Evening Standard in July, called for a re-examination of the case for a third runway as part of wider plans to increase airport capacity in the south east.