Declaring that “growth will not come without a fight”, she said that the government would back airport expansion and offered more clues about plans to unshackle housebuilding. The Heathrow decision is the surest sign yet of the government prioritising growth,

Heathrow has long argued the expansion is needed to help it keep up with rival airports in Europe, which handle less passengers with more runways, with the airport's boss saying a "clear steer" was needed from the government by the end of 2025.

U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves on Wednesday unveiled plans to deliver a shot in the arm for the country's ailing economy, including the expansion of London's Heathrow Airport. The ruling center-left Labour Party has repeatedly pledged to make economic growth its top priority.

Britain’s Labour government on Wednesday backed a plan for a third runway at London’s busy Heathrow airport, with finance minister Rachel Reeves saying it would help grow the economy while respecting climate goals.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has backed a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport as part of a fresh plan to get the UK's sluggish economy growing. She said Heathrow expansion, which has been delayed for decades over environmental concerns, would "make Britain the world's best connected place to do business".

Rachel Reeves' support for a third runway came in a wide-ranging speech on boosting UK growth rates, which have been historically low since the 2008 global financial crisis for a variety of reasons. V