Commission finding a political hot potato?

After a three-year study, the Airports Commission, as expected, selected a new runway at Heathrow over two other shortlisted options, arguing that it offered Britain the best way to add “urgently required” long-haul routes to new markets.

Observers say that Members of Parliament are in broad agreement about SE England being the area in which a new runway is a key to remaining economically competitive. But its exact location has been a point of argument for over 25 years.

And the commission finding is seen as a political hot potato for Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative government.

“Proposals to expand Heathrow in densely-populated west London are politically divisive and likely to fuel tensions in the ruling Conservative party,” said Reuters.