Boris Johnson has abandoned a central tenet of his 2015 election campaign by abstaining on the vote on Heathrow airport expansion.
When he was elected MP for Uxbridge and South Ruslip three years ago, the now Foreign Secretary promised voters he would lie in front of bulldozers to stop the expansion. Now, he has abandoned the pledge entirely and has chosen to abstain from the vote instead of voting against the government or resigning from his cabinet position.
Opponents have likened Johnson’s lack of commitment to Heathrow opposition to his promises throughout the Brexit campaign, where he promised the world to voters on to abandon them as soon as time came for him to put turn those promises into governmental policies.
Johnson is on an overseas trip, but in a letter to residents published by the Evening Standard explained he still opposed the construction of a third runway and doubted it would ever get built.
Former Tory minister Greg Hands did follow through on his promise to quit his ministerial position over the issue last week and made it clear he felt politicians should fulfil their promises to the electorate.
MPs are expected to approve the £14bn plan later today, with the Conservatives issuing a three-line whip to get the bill through the Commons.
Up to 40 Labour MPs are expected to vote with the government on the plan, which is also backed by leading trade unions and is expected to create 100,000 jobs, but the plan has been attacked by others on environmental and financial grounds.
