Mayor: Government To 'Ditch' Heathrow Promise

London Mayor Boris Johnson has attacked the removal of Justine Greening as Transport Secretary, saying it meant the Government wanted to "ditch its promises" not to build a third runway at Heathrow.

Ms Greening lost her Transport brief in David Cameron's reshuffle . She will become the new International Development Secretary, taking over from Andrew Mitchell.

Her replacement in the role will be Patrick McLoughlin.

Ms Greening, whose Putney constituency lies under Heathrow flightpaths, has been a vociferous opponent of a third runway.

Mr Johnson was quick to criticise Ms Greening's demotion, claiming it showed that the Goverment was intent on the "simply mad" expansion at Heathrow.

He said he would fight any moves to build a new runway at the busy London terminal "all the way" and accused ministers of failing to be straight with Londoners.

"There can be only one reason to move her - and that is to expand Heathrow airport," Mr Johnson said in a statement.

"It is simply mad to build a new runway in the middle of west London. Nearly a third of the victims of aircraft noise in the whole of Europe live in the vicinity of Heathrow.

"Now it is clear that the Government wants to ditch its promises and send yet more planes over central London."

Downing Street insists the Government's position is unchanged since the coalition agreement of 2010, which committed ministers to scrapping extra runway plans drawn up under Labour.

But it has launched a consultation process on future airport capacity and Chancellor George Osborne sparked speculation over a possible U-turn by saying he believed more runway capacity was needed in the south-east of England and all options should be examined.

Mr Johnson urged Ms Greening's replacement to "look at all the options" available to address the growing need to expand the UK's aviation capacity.

"It is time for Patrick McLoughlin to look at all the options, including bolder solutions that would deliver massive benefits in jobs and growth," he said.

"And it is time for the Government to level with Londoners: are they in favour of a third runway at Heathrow or not?"

©Sky News