No decision on a new runway “is quite possible” and whoever is London Mayor will oppose Heathrow expansion, a senior advisor to Boris Johnson has warned.
Daniel Moylan, advisor on aviation to the London Mayor ruled out expansion at Heathrow yesterday and hit out at the Airports Commission which will make recommendations to the next government.
Moylan told an industry forum on The Future of UK Airport Capacity in London yesterday: “I’ve reached a rather gloomy conclusion.
“I don’t think that as a result of the Airports’ Commission anything determined will happen. It’s quite possible no decision will be taken.”
Moylan said: “I’ve no idea who will form the next government. I don’t doubt the government can force through a policy against opposition. But it has to be a priority for them.
“I don’t see any of the parties has that level of commitment, and I don’t see the commission has generated that level of commitment.”
He warned that the next London Mayor would oppose expansion at Heathrow, saying: “A year after the Commission reports there will be an election for London Mayor.
“Boris [Johnson] is unlikely to be a candidate. He believes in aviation. He tried to work out a political alternative as he believes Heathrow expansion is undesirable and undeliverable.
“You have to ask yourselves – airport expansion will be a major topic in the election for Mayor and all the evidence is that there will be cross-party opposition to expanding Heathrow.
“So whoever is Mayor after Boris is likely to oppose expanding Heathrow.”
Moylan said: “The Commission has not taken account of this [and] of the responsibility of the Mayor for planning in London.”
He added: “The Davies Commission has largely ignored the Mayor in this process. It is great mistake but it fits a pattern. The commission could have sought some sort of consensus and has failed to build one.”
Moylan was speaking at a Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum in central London.