British Parliament approves Heathrow Airport Expansion

MPs have voted 415-119 in favour of building a £14bn third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Prime Minister Theresa May’s government agreed to the £14 billion (US$18.5 billion) plan earlier this month, saying it would provide a major boost to the economy.

Tory MPs were under orders to support the government – but Boris Johnson, a leading opponent of expansion, missed the vote because he was in Afghanistan.

Boris Johnson has defended his decision to skip a crunch vote on Heathrow expansion after critics accused him of breaking a promise to constituents to oppose the building of a third runway.

The Foreign Secretary, who has flown to Afghanistan, said his “resignation would have achieved absolutely nothing” as he predicted the runway will not be built and vowed to continue to oppose it from within Government.

Mr Johnson has been given carte blanche to miss Monday’s vote.

Labour’s official position was to oppose expansion, but its MPs were given a free vote. The SNP abstained.