Third Heathrow runway: Cabinet committee expected to back proposal this week

Boris Johnson, currently the mayor of London, and Zac Goldsmith, who is standing to become the city’s next mayor, are both against the idea

Protesters hold signs during a rally against a third runway at Heathrow airport, in Parliament Square (Getty)

A third runway at Heathrow Airport is expected to be given the go-ahead by a Cabinet sub-committee this week, according to a report.

Senior Conservative party sources told The Daily Telegraph that the move was expected to be announced unless it was delayed by the political controversy over whether to bomb Isis in Syria.

The sub-community is thought to have added new restrictions on noise and pollution – along with a pledge not to allow a fourth runway – in a bid to soften the blow on those campaigning against the expansion of Heathrow.

Two leading Tory MPs, Boris Johnson, currently the mayor of London, and Zac Goldsmith, who is standing to become the city’s next mayor, are both against the idea.

Mr Goldsmith has even promised to resign his Richmond Park seat in order to force a bye-election if the third runway at Heathrow is approved.

In 2009, David Cameron promised: “The third runway at Heathrow is not going ahead, no ifs, no buts.”

However earlier this year an independent commission led by economist Sir Howard Davies recommended expanding Heathrow, rather than Gatwick, for example, saying it would create more jobs.

Conservative sources said there was likely to be some kind of vote in the Commons over expanding Heathrow, even though this was not strictly necessary.