A Luton MP has hit out at Tory politicians from outside the town, saying their opposition to airport expansion could ruin “fantastic opportunities” for new jobs.
Conservative MPs for St Albans, Harpenden, Hemel Hempstead and Stevenage are against Luton Airport growing to 18 million passengers a year.
Labour MP for Luton South, Gavin Shuker, said: “The Tory-led government is supposedly in favour creating growth, yet local Tories have continuously tried to obstruct a development that will invest approximately £100 million and create around 5,000 new jobs.”
But Andrew Lambourne of campaign group HALE said the job numbers were “overstated”.
“We must look at the impact of any expansion on the daily lives of people in Luton. The airport operators propose to double the number of flights between 10pm and midnight but sleep disturbance causes serious health problems. Although growth may be good, it should not come at any price.”