Airport Expansion In The South East

Most British MPs think it is important that airport capacity in south east England is expanded over the next few years, according to new research from the MORI Reputation Centre.

The survey of British MPs shows seven in 10 (72%) feel it is important that capacity is expanded. There is little difference between the two main political parties: four in five (82%) of Labour MPs think new capacity is important, against three-quarters (76%) of Conservative MPs (although 40% of Conservatives say it is 'very important' compared to 22% Labour MPs). Only 16% of both Labour and Conservative MPs think it unimportant. Other opposition MPs (mainly Liberal Democrats) take a contrary view with one in five (19%) believing new capacity is important, and four in five (81%) thinking it unimportant.

In terms of where this should be, more than half support a second runway at Gatwick (55% support and 20% oppose) or one new runway at Stansted (53% support and 17% oppose) and 47% support a new short runway at Heathrow for use by short-haul aircraft (28% oppose). Just 17% support the idea of two new runways at Stansted and 45% say they oppose to such a plan.

• Survey of Britain's Members of Parliament -- pdf -- 108K

Technical details

This presents the topline findings of the Summer 2003 study of Britain's Members of Parliament, part of MORI's programme of regular multi-sponsored studies among key audiences. Fieldwork dates: 2 June -- 24 July 2003 among 119 MPs (Labour 74, Conservative 30 and Others 15). Interviews were conducted face-to-face.