Appearing on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, he remarked: “We set ourselves criteria: one of which was environmental impact, the other economic and social impact. On the current criteria, Heathrow expansion doesn’t qualify.”

His comments were welcomed by the Aviation Environment Federation, but not the Confederation of British Industry. A spokesman for the latter said: “Expansion of Heathrow is vital to the economy, especially if we are to have a future as a trading nation outside of the European Union.”

He added: “We have spent 50 years talking about expansion; we just need to get on with it. We share concerns regarding environmental impact, but our general position has not changed.”

A Labour spokesman would not be drawn on whether the party will now call for a fresh independent review of airport expansion, but pointed out that at its recent party conference Labour members agreed to a motion of working towards achieving net zero emissions by 2030.

The Airport Environment Federation – which represents five groups including the Heathrow Association for the Control of Air Noise – wrote to the Transport Secretary at the end of October, asking for a moratorium on airport expansion planning applications until set limits are established for greenhouse gas emissions and noise associated with increasing capacity.

AEF Director Tim Johnson said: “There’s been a huge increase in public concern about climate change since Heathrow expansion was last voted on, and all the main political parties are trying to work out how the UK can slash its carbon emissions. Expansion at Heathrow or at other UK airports would take us in the opposite direction, locking in higher aviation emissions for decades to come.

“The fact that we now have legislation to deliver net zero emissions by 2050 provides a strong case for reconsidering airport expansion plans.”

A Heathrow spokesman said: “Expanding responsibly has always been a priority for Heathrow. That is why our plans have secured overwhelming political support with 415 MPs voting in favour of the project, with more Labour MPs in support than opposition. Back in 2015, the Labour party outlined four tests that the project would need to meet in order to secure the party’s support and last year the author of those tests confirmed they had been satisfied.”

(Image: Heathrow Airports Limited)