The 28 Labour MPs who voted on Wednsday night against the government's planned expansion of Heathrow Airport to include a third runway have sent a strong message to Gordon Brown about the political opposition that awaits this project.
The vote was the largest rebellion on a motion tabled by opposition parties since the Labour government came to power in 1997.
Rebels included three former Labour party environment ministers - Michael Meacher, Chris Mullin and Nick Raysnford.
The building of a third runway may also cost Labour votes. An ICM poll conducted in December suggested that 23% of respondants would be "less likely to vote Labour" if the third runway was built. Of those who said that they intended to vote for Labour at the next eletion, 13% declared themselves "less likely" to do so if the expansion were to go ahead.
The vote was the largest rebellion on a motion tabled by opposition parties since the Labour government came to power in 1997.
Rebels included three former Labour party environment ministers - Michael Meacher, Chris Mullin and Nick Raysnford.
The building of a third runway may also cost Labour votes. An ICM poll conducted in December suggested that 23% of respondants would be "less likely to vote Labour" if the third runway was built. Of those who said that they intended to vote for Labour at the next eletion, 13% declared themselves "less likely" to do so if the expansion were to go ahead.
Director of Greenpeace John Sauven suggested that the commons vote "will have alarm bells ringing in No 10. Gordon Brown has got a problem on his hands."
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