As Heathrow’s runway decision looms, Reeves says growth ‘trumps’ net zero.

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the search for growth would “undercut” the government’s net zero commitment as she prepared to outline her support for airport expansion in the London region, including at Heathrow.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Reeves said: “When we say growth is the number one mission of this government, we mean it. That means it ruins other things.

In a speech next week, Reeves is expected to say the government will support expansion of Gatwick and Luton airports and support for a third runway at Heathrow.

Heathrow’s expansion has previously been opposed by Sir Keir Starmer and several senior Labor figures, and the issue could cause a split in the Cabinet.

A decision to approve the proposal would force the government to choose between the stated objectives of supporting “growth” and reducing the UK’s carbon emissions.

Some Whitehall officials believe Reeves, a proponent of Heathrow expansion, is trying to get Starmer to officially approve a third runway. “This is not my assessment,” said the Prime Minister’s aide.

Starmer, asked about the issue in Parliament on Wednesday, declined to comment on the “speculation”, saying: “We are committed as a government to growth. We are committed to the aviation sector and our climate obligations.

In theory, Reeves reiterating her support for Heathrow’s third runway could be the political signal needed before the airport’s management decides whether or not to push forward with proposals later this year.

In the year In the last House of Commons vote on Heathrow’s third runway in 2018, seven current cabinet members, including Starmer, were against it. The others were Ed Miliband, Steve Reid, Lisa Nandy, Darren Jones, Annelise Dodds and Hilary Benn.

But Heathrow’s management refused to revive the scheme without clear political support. Miliband, now climate change secretary, has threatened to resign over the issue under Gordon Brown, while London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan remains defiant.

A spokesman for Khan said this week: “The Mayor has long been opposed to airport expansion around London – linked to the negative impact on air quality, noise and London’s ability to reach net zero by 2030.”

As aviation is one of the hardest-hit industries to decarbonise – critics of the growing prospect of using “sustainable aviation fuel” argue that a major expansion in aviation is inconsistent with the UK’s legally binding target of reaching net zero carbon emissions.

Downing Street this week said it needed a third runway at Heathrow to meet its four tests on carbon emissions, noise, air quality and growth. Environmental noise and air pollution issues are considered by experts to be the most difficult to deal with in the busy West London area.