Vince Cable

The Royal Geographic Society in Kensington has organised a major public debate on Runway 3 and Heathrow expansion which over 600 people - residents, London business groups and policy makers - attended.

Vincent Cable MP led the team opposed to expansion and the arguments in favour were led by Tom Kelly of BAA and Lord Soley. After the vote, the opponents won by over 2 to 1.

Vincent Cable said: "In the middle of a major financial crisis, it is difficult for people to focus on long term concerns like global warming and the balance between aviation demand and the environment. But we have to. The present crisis may, in fact, fundamentally change our way of looking at the world and a 'business as usual' approach to growth and airport expansion is simply not credible any more.

"One key issue to emerge from the debate is that fewer people now expect the new runway to go ahead now that both we and the Conservatives are committed to stopping it. The debate will not shift to the proposed ending of runway alternation as a stealthier way of getting round the cap on flights."