Commons set to vote on Heathrow expansion plans

MP’s will decide later on Monday whether to go ahead with plans to build a third runway at Heathrow airport.

The spotlight is on Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who is against the plans but will not be present at the vote, with some MP’s urging him to resign over the matter.

It is widely expected that the plan will get the backing of the Commons, although the Scottish National Party (SNP) might decide to abstain or vote against meaning the result could be closer than initially predicted.

Greg Hands, who quit as trade minister on Thursday, so as to be able to more freely oppose the expansion, will be in attendance.

Hands, who represents the district right under the flight path, Hammersmith and Fulham, vowed to do his best to try and block construction of a third runway.

Although the expansion would bring in more passengers, with 700 more planes a day and £70bn in total economic benefits by the 2050s, campaigners argue that the UK will breach the legal limits on air pollution and increase noise pollution.

Residents nearby will also suffer the consequences of the increased activity and hundreds of homes may need to be knocked down as a result.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling told the BBC on Monday that the new runway was "not simply a project for London and the south of England", arguing that it would benefit the whole of the UK.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who campaigned openly against the expansion and once pledged to sit in front of the bulldozers to stop it, will not attend the vote as he is in Afghanistan.

Johnson is facing criticism for his absence after being so openly critical of the runway. On Sunday, Conservative colleague Sarah Wollaston told the Westminster Hour that Johnson should do the honourable thing and resign so that he could vote against the third runway.

MPs debate on Heathrow was scheduled to begin at around 1530 BST.