London mayor Boris Johnson is reportedly considering taking legal action against the government to speed up the UK’s review of airport capacity.
He could go to the High Court to bring forward a government-commissioned study into Britain’s airports which is only due to report fully after the 2015 general election.
The disclosure in London newspaper The Evening Standard emerged as Gatwick unveiled plans for a second runway in a move set to create a clash with Heathrow over which airport should expand to meet the southeast’s aviation needs.
Johnson is angry over the decision to delay the full Davies report into airport capacity until after the election, with only an interim paper being published next year.
His official spokesman told the newspaper: “The mayor made it clear to the prime minister he thinks the Davies commission’s time frame is far too long.
“Kicking the issue into the long grass beyond 2015 only emboldens our European competitors. The mayor believes the government needs to ask the commission to report next year, not in three years.
“Equally if the government were to consider other options that alleviate the glacial pace of decision-making he would of course welcome that.”
Johnson could launch a judicial review, arguing he was not properly consulted on the setting up of the inquiry.