Keir Starmer’s Damascene conversion to a third runway at Heathrow, which he previously voted against, is welcome. But if he’s serious he will need to take decisive steps to curb the blockers’ tactics – in particular, by reforming judicial review, says Sir Simon Clarke

“Congratulations to the climate campaigners. There is no more important challenge than the climate emergency. That is why I voted against Heathrow expansion.” So said Keir Starmer less than four years ago, when the Court of Appeal ruled the Conservative decision to green light a third runway at the airport unlawful. But now, it seems, change is in the air.

Fresh home from Davos, the Chancellor will use her big speech today to say the third runway is back. The Prime Minister is trumpeting his new credentials as a “builder, not a blocker”. Sir Keir’s Damascene conversion should be welcomed. Airport expansion encapsulates a bigger question – are we serious about national prosperity, or aren’t we?

Heathrow provides more than 70 per cent of the UK’s long haul flights and........

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