Conservatives pledge to push ahead with Heathrow's third runway despite mayoral opposition

During the Conservative Party conference, Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith declared that a next-generation Conservative government would fully endorse the construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport and take steps to overcome existing planning hurdles. He framed one outlet stalemate as an "embarrassment" and accused the prime minister of insufficient leadership. Several London mayoral candidates, notably Alex Challoner and Festus Akinbusoye, voiced support for the expansion, describing Heathrow as a vital part of the national infrastructure.

Mr Cleverly said his priority is to represent West London residents and has arranged meetings with both the airport and local communities. The party also signaled intent to introduce legislation aimed at removing regulatory blockers, while critics warned the project could divert investment from other regions. The proposed runway would raise capacity to 756,000 flights and 150 million passengers annually.