Britain’s return to growth could be curtailed if the government does not formulate a plan for new runways around London, former Conservative minister Michael Heseltine warned Wednesday.
In a radical report due to be published later Wednesday, Heseltine stressed “there is an unavoidable need for a decision” on how to increase the capital’s air capacity and that it could not be delayed until after the next election.
The report, entitled “No Stone Unturned in Pursuit of Growth”, also urges chancellor George Osborne to do more to boost infrastructure spending.
The peer calls for £50 billion pool of public money to be spread out among the regions and a loosening of visa restrictions for foreign graduates and skilled workers.
He also demanded that the country’s long-term energy plans be clarified.
“Without real certainty about the UK’s long-term energy policy private investors simply will not risk the enormous sums of capital required to build our energy infrastructure,” he argued.
Osborne responded: “I wanted Lord Heseltine to do what he does best: challenge received wisdom and give us ideas on how to bring government and industry together.
“He has done exactly that. This is a report bursting with ideas and we will study it very carefully.”
Heseltine urges govt to sort out airport policy
