Labour U-turn on second runway at Stansted Airport

The Labour Party is no longer in favour of a second runway at Stansted Airport in Essex, it has said.

In its manifesto the Labour Party said it was still supporting the idea of a third runway at Heathrow, but it had changed its mind about Stansted.

"We will not allow additional runways to proceed at any other airport in the next Parliament," the manifesto said.

Theresa Villiers, shadow transport secretary, said: "Just three weeks before the general election a tired Labour government has finally caved in and accepted the Conservative position on Stansted.

"Conservatives have opposed a second runway for years and will stop it happening if we win the general election."

Inquiries needed

The Liberal Democrat shadow transport secretary Norman Baker said: "Any party that supports a third runway at Heathrow cannot be serious about climate change.

"Labour are wedded to a third runway and the Tories can't be trusted to reverse it. Only the Liberal Democrats can guarantee there will be no airport expansion across London and the South East."

Stop Stansted Expansion campaign director Carol Barbone said the inquiries needed before a second runway could be built would take the lifetime of parliament.