Conservatives must 'properly negotiate' on airport expansion, says SNP deputy leader

David Cameron must “properly negotiate” with the SNP over any decision to expand Heathrow Airport if he wants to win a potential Commons vote, the party’s deputy leader has warned.

Stewart Hosie told a fringe at the party’s annual conference that the Conservatives’ slim majority at Westminster meant “any decision on any contentious issue”, including Heathrow, required them to work with the nationalists.  

It comes amid suggestions the SNP’s 55 MPs could be kingmakers if the UK Government brings forward plans. Both Heathrow and Gatwick airports are hosting events at the party’s conference in Aberdeen.

In July, the Airports Commission, led by Sir Howard Davies, backed a third runway at Heathrow instead of a second runway at its rival airport in West Sussex.

The Prime Minister has promised to make a decision on airport expansion by the end of the year, albeit could face opposition within his own party if he accepts the recommendations of the Airports Commission.

Hosie told a fringe event hosted by Heathrow Airport and IPPR that the SNP remained “neutral” on who should get a new runway “so long as the connectivity is there” for Scottish airport passengers.

However, in a clear hint that Heathrow may be the frontrunner, the Dundee East MP pointed out “the business community like Heathrow because it’s easy”.

“In terms of the question about Heathrow and the Conservatives, it’s certainly the case that in previous elections this was an enormous issue and a number of Tories, particularly in west London, were publically against expansion,” he said.

“Whether that’s the case now I’m not so sure, there does appear to be a slight change in the mood. But the question is the same for many issues.

“With a majority of 12 and a Tory rebellion already bigger than Maastricht, I think any decision on any contentious issue will have to be properly thought through, properly worked through and properly negotiated if the government are at all serious about getting any of the decisions – big decisions – they want to see put in place.

“And that goes for Heathrow as well.”

Hosie said access for Scotland to whichever airport gets the go-ahead has to be “on a regular basis, on a consistent basis and on a long-term basis”.

“I think the first airport which offers us that in abundance will be in a prime position to get the kind of support they might be looking for,” he added.