UK Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has been criticised for hinting the final decision on a new runway for the south-east of England could be further delayed by the EU referendum.
Business leaders and MPs across the north and north-east reacted angrily after the Tory frontbencher pointed to the poll as one of a number of issues that would be competing for ministers’ attention in the months ahead.
The comments were branded “unhelpful” amid calls for David Cameron to show leadership and “grasp the nettle”.
And the minister was warned the UK’s place on the world stage was under threat due to “damaging” delays.
Asked in a radio interview when the issue would finally be resolved, Mr McLoughlin said the UK Government would hope to “move some way by the summer”.
But he added: “There’s lots of other things which are going on in the political spectrum – if there’s a referendum this summer, and the like.”
The Airports Commission came out in favour of Heathrow expansion last year, but a decision on a possible third runway at the London hub was deferred in December after ministers decided more work was needed on its impact on air quality, noise and carbon emissions.
The referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU could be held as early as June, with Scottish Secretary David Mundell saying this week that the timescale would be sufficient for people to weigh up the issues.
Former Scottish secretary Alistair Carmichael said Mr McLoughlin’s remarks proved there was always going to be some reason not to make the “crucially important” decision.
The Northern isles MP added: “It is time the Tories stopped worrying about their own party management problems and looked at the national interest here.”
SNP transport spokesman and Inverness MP Drew Hendry agreed the Government continued to put “political convenience ahead of the UK’s connectivity”.
He went on: “Instead of saying one thing and doing another for his own party’s advantage, it’s time David Cameron showed some leadership and finally got this sorted.”
But Mr McLoughlin insisted the upcoming mayoral election “didn’t have any bearing” on the decision, pointing out that ministers had known of Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith’s opposition to a third runway for some time.
James Bream, research and policy director at Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said the continued uncertainty was unhelpful, adding: “Even more unhelpful is government ministers speculating about further delays adding
even further uncertainty.
“The UK Government needs to grasp the nettle, make a difficult decision and get on with expansion.”
Stewart Nicol, chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, said using the referendum as an “excuse for a delay” would be “unacceptable”.
He added: “We can’t keep delaying this because it’s actually damaging everybody, the UK’s place on the world stage as a nation and government as well as regions like Inverness and the Highlands.”
Inglis Lyon, managing director at Highlands and Islands Airports (HIAL), said the prospect of further delay was “deeply concerning” as it threatened long-term access to remote regions of the UK and the country’s overall standing as a global hub.
North-east Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald called on the Tories to “stop making excuses and try making a decision instead”.