UK Edition
Greg Hands resigns over Heathrow expansion opposition as Theresa May gives Boris Johnson permission to miss crunch vote
Theresa May has suffered another resignation as Greg Hands quit over the Government’s support for expansion at Heathrow Airport while Boris Johnson was given carte blanche to miss a crunch vote on the issue.
Mr Hands, an international trade minister, suggested the Government’s decision to whip Tory MPs to back the third runway meant he had no choice but to resign having promised his constituents he would vote against the plans.
But Mr Johnson, an outspoken critic of Heathrow expansion, has been given permission by the Prime Minister to skip the vote which will take place on Monday.
Mrs May said the Foreign Secretary would be the “living embodiment of global Britain” as she confirmed he will be out of the country in a move which spares the Prime Minister a potential headache over the future of her most high-profile minister.
It also means Mr Johnson does not have to make a choice between supporting the Government’s position and honouring a pledge to his constituents in Uxbridge and South Ruislip to oppose the third runway.
Mr Johnson previously said he would “lie down... in front of those bulldozers” to stop expansion.
Mr Hands’ decision to quit immediately prompted speculation over what Mr Johnson would do, with sources telling the Daily Telegraph the Foreign Secretary would be “travelling” on Monday - but no details of the trip were made available “for security reasons”.
Mrs May then confirmed Mr Johnson will be out of the country as she conducted a joint press conference with Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato Secretary General, at Downing Street.
She said: “The Government is absolutely committed to increasing airport capacity at Heathrow.
“This is important, it is part of our future as global Britain, and the ambitions we have as a trading nation for the future.
“The Foreign Secretary early next week will be what I would describe as the living embodiment of global Britain.
“He will be out there actually showing the UK’s continued presence around the world and the work that the UK continues to do around the world with our diplomacy, working on so many of the issues and challenges that we face across the world today.”
Mrs May’s Cabinet backed the building of a third runway at the start of June and MPs will now be asked to formally give the plans the go ahead.
The Government is expected to have enough support for the proposals to proceed with Tory MPs facing a three line whip while Labour MPs, many of who support the plans, have been offered a free vote on the issue.
However, Mrs May does face a Conservative rebellion on the issue with Mr Johnson one of a number of Tory MPs who have made clear they cannot back the scheme.
Mr Hands, the MP for Chelsea and Fulham, has been a longstanding critic of expansion and his decision to quit came just over one week after Phillip Lee resigned from the Government over its Brexit policy.
Announcing his resignation, Mr Hands said: “As the Government will be whipping the vote on Monday, this means I am resigning from the Government.
“It has been an honour to serve the Prime Minister (and her predecessor) for the last 7 years and I wish the PM & the Government every continuing success.”
Mr Hands announced his resignation as he was on a pilgrimage at the Romanian monastery of Voronet.
He said his constantly ringing mobile phone made the visit a “bit awkward” as he joked: “I think the monks think I might be a drug dealer.”
Mr Hands was replaced as international trade minister by George Hollingbery.