Labour leader Corbyn backs expansion at Gatwick as cabinet mulls decision

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has backed a second runway at Gatwick as preferable to a third at Heathrow, as the cabinet agonises over whether to back expansion at Heathrow.

Corbyn was quoted in the West Sussex County News as saying that whilst he opposed the Airports Commission recommendation for a bigger Heathrow, "Gatwick already has spare capacity at the moment and does have facility to expand beyond 2019. Gatwick is a possibility," he said, during his visit to Crawley in West Sussex, home to employees of Gatwick Airport.

The leader of the opposition and Islington North MP, added: "But I also think we should look at the under-used capacity all around the South and the South East," citing Stansted, Southampton and Birmingham all as capable of accommodating more flights.

16th Nov update: Gatwick Airport's chief executive Stewart Wingate told The Sunday Telegraph yesterday that the airport will continue to pursue its plans to build a second runway, regardless of the Government's decision on where to expand.