'A Disaster': Labour Accused Of Ditching Climate Change Pledges Over Gatwick Expansion

<div><img src="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/68d0e7f318000068c75cfc9e.jpeg?ops=scalefit_630_noupscale" alt="" data-caption="" data-credit-link-back="" data-credit="via Associated Press" /></div><div class="content-list-component text"><p><a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/labour-party/">Labour </a>have been accused of speeding up the climate crisis after giving the green light to a massive expansion of Gatwick Airport.</p><p>Chancellor <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/rachel-reeves/">Rachel Reeves</a> said the £2.2 billion second runway plan could create thousands of jobs and boost the economy.</p><p>It comes after the government also gave its approval to a third runway at <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rachel-reeves-gives-the-governments-backing-to-third-heathrow-runway_uk_6799e306e4b01949837ef443">Heathrow Airport</a> earlier this year.</p><p>The Gatwick expansion will see the airport move its emergency runway 12 metres north, enabling it to be used for about 100,000 more flights a year.</p><p>Reeves said: “This government promised to kickstart the economy – and we are.</p><p>“A second runway at Gatwick means thousands of more jobs and billions more in investment for the economy.”</p><p>But environmental campaigners blasted the move.</p><p><a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uk-green-party/">Green Party</a> co-leader <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/zack-polanski/">Zack Polanski</a> said: “Signing off on a second runway at Gatwick is a disaster. It ignores basic climate science and risks undermining efforts to tackle the climate crisis.</p><p>“Labour keeps wheeling out the same nonsense about growth,