Brown rejects MPs' call for airport vote

GORDON Brown today refused to agree to MPs' demands for a vote on plans for a third runway at Heathrow.

Labour rebel MPs have raised the prospect of a humiliating defeat for the Prime Minister in a parliamentary showdown over the airport's expansion.

About 100 MPs, including at least 41 Labour backbenchers, have signed an Early Day Motion on Heathrow demanding a Commons vote. Many more are expected to support the call.

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has made it clear he is opposed to such a move. Downing Street refused to give ground today, with the Prime Minister's official spokesman saying: "The third runway has been subject to extensive consultation and debated in the House of Commons already."

Reading West Labour MP Martin Salter, the party's vice-chairman on the environment, leading the revolt, said they were calling on the Government not to proceed with the third runway "without giving the House of Commons a chance to debate the issue".

Mr Salter's motion has been signed by six former Labour ministers, including Greenwich and Woolwich MP Nick Raynsford, Tory MP for Putney Justine Greening and Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker.

The 41 rebels could overturn the Government's Commons majority. The Cabinet is split over the issue with some senior ministers voicing concerns.