The Energy Secretary was repeatedly asked if he was now in favour of a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
Ed Miliband grilled on if he backs Heathrow expansion
Ed Miliband was left squirming as he was grilled on if he personally backs the Heathrow expansion.
The Labour Government will support a third runway in a bid to boost growth, but the Energy Secretary has been a fierce critic of the proposals in the past.
Asked by BBC Breakfast if he was for the plans or “just going along with the crowd”, the Cabinet minister said: “I’m part of a Government that has said it wants to invite applications from Heathrow for a third runway.
“It’s got to pass strict environmental conditions and meet our carbon budgets.
“Obviously I’m part of the Government and I abide by collective responsibility.”
BBC Breakfast host Charlie Stayt and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband (Image: BBC BREAKFAST)
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Pressed on if that meant he was for a third runway, Mr Miliband added: “Well yes, I’m part of a Government that has that position.”
Pushed again, he went on: “I’m not obfuscating. I was part of the decision-making process and the decision is as Rachel Reeves set it out, that’s the collective decision of the Government”.
Mr Miliband voted against Heathrow expansion in a Commons vote in June 2018.
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Expanding Heathrow to build a third runway was among a throng of major projects Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the Government would support in a speech last week aimed at unlocking economic growth across the UK.
But senior Labour figures, including some of her Cabinet colleagues, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, have opposed expansion plans in the past.
