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MPs have backed controversial plans to build a third runway at London's Heathrow airport.

The government won a key vote in the Commons by 415 votes to 119 - a majority of 296.

Tory MPs were under orders to support the government - but Boris Johnson, a leading opponent of expansion, missed the vote because he was in Afghanistan.

Labour's official position was to oppose expansion, but its MPs were given a free vote. The SNP abstained.

How did the MPs vote on the Heathrow Expansion Bill? For: 415 Against: 119 Did not vote: 116 Did my MP vote For or Against the third runway at Heathrow? Enter your postcode, or the name or constituency of your MP Enter your postcode, or the name or constituency of your MP

The vote was welcomed by business group the CBI as "a truly historic decision that will open the doors to a new era in the UK's global trading relationships".

But Greenpeace UK said it was ready to join a cross-party group of London councils and the city's mayor, Sadiq Khan, in a legal challenge against the third runway.

And Friends of the Earth said in a statement: "MPs who backed this climate-wrecking new runway will be harshly judged by history.

"The evidence on the accelerating climate crisis, which is already hitting the world's most vulnerable people, is overwhelming - and expanding Heathrow will only intensify the misery."

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption John McDonnell makes an impassioned plea to halt Heathrow expansion

Environmental activists earlier staged a "lie-in" over Heathrow in Parliament's central lobby, just metres away from MPs preparing to vote on the proposals.

Police locked-down the area after 12 protesters, who described themselves as from a "pop-up" Vote No Heathrow campaign, sprawled across the floor chanting.

The government has pledged the airport will be built at no cost to the taxpayer, will create 100,000 jobs and will benefit the entire country, through guaranteed internal flights to the rest of the UK.

Image caption Boris Johnson, who has returned from a trip to Afghanistan, was criticised for missing the vote

Ministers also insist the project will have built-in environmental protections, with the ability to fine Heathrow or ground aircraft if promises on night flights and other contentious issues are broken.

Eight Conservative MPs voted against the government, including former cabinet ministers Justine Greening and Theresa Villiers, Greg Hands - who resigned last week as international trade minister - and Adam Afriyie, Sir David Amess, Bob Blackman, Zak Goldsmith and Matthew Offord.

More Labour MPs supported the government than backed their leader Jeremy Corbyn, who had opposed the expansion.

The development was supported by 119 Labour MPs, while 96 voted against the move.

MPs from across the political spectrum, some with constituencies on the Heathrow flight path, spoke out against the plan.

At the start of a four-hour debate, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said Heathrow was "full" and a new runway was needed to secure "a clear path to our future as a global nation in the post-Brexit world."

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Greg Hands: 'I made an unequivocal pledge' on Heathrow

But in an impassioned speech, Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell warned that villages that had existed for 1,000 years would be "wiped off the face of the earth" to enable a company to maximise its profits.

"There are human costs to this decision that this House needs to recognise and contemplate before they vote tonight to worry and blight my community once again on a programme that will never - pardon the pun - take off," he told MPs.

Opposition MPs shouted "Where's Boris?" as a Conservative MP who resigned from government over Heathrow expansion urged colleagues to join him in opposing a third runway.

Former International trade minister Greg Hands, who represents Chelsea and Fulham, raised concerns about air quality and night flights but said it was a "debate about being true to your word and to your election pledges".

Mr Johnson said following Mr Hands' example and quitting the government to vote against Heathrow would "achieve absolutely nothing," before departing on a trip to Afghanistan.</s>LONDON: British MPs overwhelmingly approved on Monday (Jun 25) long-awaited plans to build a third runway at London Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, after decades of acrimonious debate over its potential impact.

Lawmakers, by a wide margin of 296 votes, backed expansion proposals agreed earlier this month by Prime Minister Theresa May's government, overcoming vehement opposition from MPs with constituencies nearby where residents fear increased pollution and noise.

Among them is Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who once pledged to lie in front of bulldozers to stop construction, but missed the key vote due to a last-minute trip to Afghanistan.

The government argue that the £14 billion (US$18.5 billion) plan will provide a major boost to Britain's post-Brexit economy and could create up to 114,000 local jobs by 2030.

"This is a momentous vote that has been 50 years in the making and represents the biggest transport decision in a generation," said Transport Secretary Chris Grayling ahead of securing approval for the plan.

"At stake are thousands of new jobs and the country's ability to compete on an international stage and win new global trade."

Heathrow hopes to begin construction by 2021 although it must still obtain formal planning permission and will likely face legal challenges.

Grayling insisted the plan could be delivered without breaking Britain's commitments on climate change, and has sought to reassure locals with a continued ban on night flights.

But immediately following the vote, environmental campaign group Greenpeace UK said it was ready to challenge the runway in court with a cross-party group of London councils and the city's mayor Sadiq Khan.

"If ministers don't want to uphold the laws protecting us from toxic fumes and climate change, we're going to ask a court to do that," added its executive director John Sauven.

Anti-expansion activists staged a "lie-in" over the plans in parliament's central lobby earlier Monday evening, just metres away from MPs debating the issue.

Police locked down the area after the 12 protesters sprawled themselves across the floor chanting in protest.

Grayling said the project would be funded by the private sector, adding that the government would work with Heathrow's operator to ensure that costs are not passed on to airlines.

British Airways owner IAG has expressed concerns about higher landing charges for what it said is already the most expensive hub airport in the world.

IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said MPs had approved the plan "without any idea on how much it will cost" and it had "zero confidence" charges would stay flat.

"It's only a matter of time before we start hearing excuses for massive cost escalation on the exorbitant estimated cost of the project," he added in a statement shortly after lawmakers backed the plan.

Junior trade minister and London MP Greg Hands quit the government last week to vote against the expansion, and on Monday criticised Johnson for dodging the decision.

"I wouldn't want to be abroad...#commitments," Hands wrote in a Twitter message.

May has ordered all her Conservative MPs to back the plan, but agreed to Johnson's trip, saying he would be the "living embodiment of global Britain" - the slogan for Britain's future outside the EU.

The Afghan foreign ministry said Johnson held talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai on a range of issues, notably security.

In a letter to his constituents obtained by London's Evening Standard newspaper, he said he would continue to lobby within government against Heathrow.

"But it is clear from what is likely to be a large majority of MPs who are in favour of a third runway that my resignation would have achieved absolutely nothing," Johnson wrote.

The minister, a leading voice for Brexit in the government, added that given the "considerable difficulties" the project still faced, it may not even happen.

Shouts of "where's Boris?" could be heard back in Britain's House of Commons as lawmakers debated the proposals through the evening.

The main opposition Labour party is against the expansion but gave its MPs a free vote and many backed the plan, particularly as it has trade union support.

However, its leader Jeremy Corbyn has signalled that Labour could scrap the expansion if the party gains power.</s>British MPs overwhelmingly approved on Monday long-awaited plans to build a third runway at London Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, after decades of acrimonious debate over its potential impact.

Lawmakers, by a wide margin of 296 votes, backed expansion proposals agreed earlier this month by Prime Minister Theresa May’s government, overcoming vehement opposition from MPs with constituencies nearby where residents fear increased pollution and noise.

Among them is Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who once pledged to lie in front of bulldozers to stop construction, but missed the key vote due to a last-minute trip to Afghanistan.

The government argue that the £14 billion (15.9 billion euros, $18.5 billion) plan will provide a major boost to Britain’s post-Brexit economy and could create up to 114,000 local jobs by 2030.

“This is a momentous vote that has been 50 years in the making and represents the biggest transport decision in a generation,” said Transport Secretary Chris Grayling ahead of securing approval for the plan.

“At stake are thousands of new jobs and the country’s ability to compete on an international stage and win new global trade.”

Heathrow hopes to begin construction by 2021 although it must still obtain formal planning permission and will likely face legal challenges.

Grayling insisted the plan could be delivered without breaking Britain’s commitments on climate change, and has sought to reassure locals with a continued ban on night flights.

But immediately following the vote, environmental campaign group Greenpeace UK said it was ready to challenge the runway in court with a cross-party group of London councils and the city’s mayor Sadiq Khan.

“If ministers don’t want to uphold the laws protecting us from toxic fumes and climate change, we’re going to ask a court to do that,” added its executive director John Sauven.

Anti-expansion activists staged a “lie-in” over the plans in parliament’s central lobby earlier Monday evening, just metres away from MPs debating the issue.

Police locked down the area after the 12 protesters sprawled themselves across the floor chanting in protest.

– ‘Zero confidence’ -Grayling said the project would be funded by the private sector, adding that the government would work with Heathrow’s operator to ensure that costs are not passed on to airlines.

British Airways owner IAG has expressed concerns about higher landing charges for what it said is already the most expensive hub airport in the world.

IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said MPs had approved the plan “without any idea on how much it will cost” and it had “zero confidence” charges would stay flat.

“It’s only a matter of time before we start hearing excuses for massive cost escalation on the exorbitant estimated cost of the project,” he added in a statement shortly after lawmakers backed the plan.

Junior trade minister and London MP Greg Hands quit the government last week to vote against the expansion, and on Monday criticised Johnson for dodging the decision.

“I wouldn’t want to be abroad…#commitments,” Hands wrote in a Twitter message.

May has ordered all her Conservative MPs to back the plan, but agreed to Johnson’s trip, saying he would be the “living embodiment of global Britain” — the slogan for Britain’s future outside the EU.

The Afghan foreign ministry said Johnson held talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai on a range of issues, notably security.

In a letter to his constituents obtained by London’s Evening Standard newspaper, he said he would continue to lobby within government against Heathrow.

“But it is clear from what is likely to be a large majority of MPs who are in favour of a third runway that my resignation would have achieved absolutely nothing,” Johnson wrote.

The minister, a leading voice for Brexit in the government, added that given the “considerable difficulties” the project still faced, it may not even happen.

Shouts of “where’s Boris?” could be heard back in Britain’s House of Commons as lawmakers debated the proposals through the evening.

The main opposition Labour party is against the expansion but gave its MPs a free vote and many backed the plan, particularly as it has trade union support.

However, its leader Jeremy Corbyn has signalled that Labour could scrap the expansion if the party gains power. DM</s>The UK House of Commons voted by a 415-119 margin to approve the building of a third runway at London Heathrow Airport.

After years of debate in the UK over expanding Heathrow, the UK parliamentary vote follows the strong backing for building a third runway at the busy hub by UK Prime Minister Theresa May. The project to build a third runway is expected to cost around £14 billion ($18.5 billion); in addition to paving the runway, it will likely require an expansion of existing terminal infrastructure and a realignment of the M25 motorway. The plan is for the runway to be operational by 2026.

The vote was not without controversy. Britain’s trade minister, Greg Hands, resigned his post ahead of the vote, saying he could not back May on the issue. Boris Johnson, currently the UK’s foreign secretary and formerly the mayor of London—and a long-time opponent of a third Heathrow runway—missed the vote because of a trip to Afghanistan, prompting taunts of “Where’s Boris?” from some Members of Parliament during the vote.

Now part of a government officially backing the plan, Johnson once said he would “lie down in front of bulldozers” to stop a third Heathrow runway.

Progress on the project is expected to continue to be slow, with several environmental and community groups predicted to launch judicial review proceedings against the plan. Also in opposition is International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent group of the airport’s largest operator, British Airways. IAG CEO Willie Walsh has repeatedly questioned the high cost of building a third runway at Heathrow.</s>MPs have backed controversial plans to build a third runway at London's Heathrow airport.

The government won a key vote in the Commons by 415 votes to 119 - a majority of 296.

Tory MPs were under orders to support the government - but Boris Johnson, a leading opponent of expansion, missed the vote because he was in Afghanistan.

Labour's official position was to oppose expansion, but its MPs were given a free vote. The SNP abstained.

The vote was welcomed by business group the CBI as "a truly historic decision that will open the doors to a new era in the UK's global trading relationships".

But Greenpeace UK said it was ready to join a cross-party group of London councils and the city's mayor, Sadiq Khan, in a legal challenge against the third runway.

And Friends of the Earth said in a statement: "MPs who backed this climate-wrecking new runway will be harshly judged by history.

"The evidence on the accelerating climate crisis, which is already hitting the world's most vulnerable people, is overwhelming - and expanding Heathrow will only intensify the misery."

Environmental activists earlier staged a "lie-in" over Heathrow in Parliament's central lobby, just metres away from MPs preparing to vote on the proposals.

Police locked-down the area after 12 protesters, who described themselves as from a "pop-up" Vote No Heathrow campaign, sprawled across the floor chanting.

The government has pledged the airport will be built at no cost to the taxpayer, will create 100,000 jobs and will benefit the entire country, through guaranteed internal flights to the rest of the UK.

Ministers also insist the project will have built-in environmental protections, with the ability to fine Heathrow or ground aircraft if promises on night flights and other contentious issues are broken.

But MPs from across the political spectrum, with constituencies on the Heathrow flight path, spoke out against the plan.

At the start of a four-hour debate, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said Heathrow was "full" and a new runway was needed to secure "a clear path to our future as a global nation in the post-Brexit world."

But in an impassioned speech, Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell warned that villages that had existed for 1,000 years would be "wiped off the face of the earth" to enable a company to maximise its profits.

"There are human costs to this decision that this House needs to recognise and contemplate before they vote tonight to worry and blight my community once again on a programme that will never - pardon the pun - take off," he told MPs.

Opposition MPs shouted "Where's Boris?" as a Conservative MP who resigned from government over Heathrow expansion urged colleagues to join him in opposing a third runway.

Former International trade minister Greg Hands, who represents Chelsea and Fulham, raised concerns about air quality and night flights but said it was a "debate about being true to your word and to your election pledges".

Mr Johnson said following Mr Hands' example and quitting the government to vote against Heathrow would "achieve absolutely nothing," before departing on a trip to Afghanistan.</s>British MPs overwhelmingly approved long-awaited plans to build a third runway at London Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, after decades of acrimonious debate over its potential impact. Lawmakers, by a wide margin of 296 votes, backed expansion proposals agreed earlier this month by Prime Minister Theresa May's government, overcoming vehement opposition from MPs with constituencies nearby where residents fear increased pollution and noise.

Among them is Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who once pledged to lie in front of bulldozers to stop construction, but missed the key vote due to a last-minute trip to Afghanistan.

The government argue that the ?14 billion (15.9 billion euros, $18.5 billion) plan will provide a major boost to Britain's post-Brexit economy and could create up to 114,000 local jobs by 2030.

"This is a momentous vote that has been 50 years in the making and represents the biggest transport decision in a generation," said Transport Secretary Chris Grayling ahead of securing approval for the plan.

"At stake are thousands of new jobs and the country's ability to compete on an international stage and win new global trade." Heathrow hopes to begin construction by 2021 although it must still obtain formal planning permission and will likely face legal challenges.

Grayling insisted the plan could be delivered without breaking Britain's commitments on climate change, and has sought to reassure locals with a continued ban on night flights.

But immediately following the vote, environmental campaign group Greenpeace UK said it was ready to challenge the runway in court with a cross-party group of London councils and the city's mayor Sadiq Khan.

"If ministers don't want to uphold the laws protecting us from toxic fumes and climate change, we're going to ask a court to do that," added its executive director John Sauven.

Anti-expansion activists staged a "lie-in" over the plans in parliament's central lobby earlier Monday evening, just metres away from MPs debating the issue.

Police locked down the area after the 12 protesters sprawled themselves across the floor chanting in protest.

Grayling said the project would be funded by the private sector, adding that the government would work with Heathrow's operator to ensure that costs are not passed on to airlines.

British Airways owner IAG has expressed concerns about higher landing charges for what it said is already the most expensive hub airport in the world.

IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said MPs had approved the plan "without any idea on how much it will cost" and it had "zero confidence" charges would stay flat.

"It's only a matter of time before we start hearing excuses for massive cost escalation on the exorbitant estimated cost of the project," he added in a statement shortly after lawmakers backed the plan.

Junior trade minister and London MP Greg Hands quit the government last week to vote against the expansion, and on Monday criticised Johnson for dodging the decision.

"I wouldn't want to be abroad...#commitments," Hands wrote in a Twitter message.

May has ordered all her Conservative MPs to back the plan, but agreed to Johnson's trip, saying he would be the "living embodiment of global Britain" -- the slogan for Britain's future outside the EU.

The Afghan foreign ministry said Johnson held talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai on a range of issues, notably security.

In a letter to his constituents obtained by London's Evening Standard newspaper, he said he would continue to lobby within government against Heathrow.

"But it is clear from what is likely to be a large majority of MPs who are in favour of a third runway that my resignation would have achieved absolutely nothing," Johnson wrote.

The minister, a leading voice for Brexit in the government, added that given the "considerable difficulties" the project still faced, it may not even happen.

Shouts of "where's Boris?" could be heard back in Britain's House of Commons as lawmakers debated the proposals through the evening.

The main opposition Labour party is against the expansion but gave its MPs a free vote and many backed the plan, particularly as it has trade union support.

However, its leader Jeremy Corbyn has signalled that Labour could scrap the expansion if the party gains power.</s>MPs have overwhelmingly backed the government's £14bn proposal to expand Heathrow Airport with a third runway.

In a vote late on Monday, the House of Commons supported the plan by 415 to 119, giving the government a huge majority of 296.

Ministers were aided by the support of 119 Labour MPs voting in favour of the plan, with many of the party's trade union backers in favour of a third runway.

Eight Tory MPs, including Windsor MP Adam Afriyie and ex-ministers Justine Greening and Greg Hands, rebelled against the party's three-line whip and voted against expansion.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who gave his MPs a free vote on the issue, was joined by 93 of his colleagues in voting against a third runway.

Immediately after the vote result, Greenpeace vowed to join a cross-party group of London councils and the city's mayor Sadiq Khan in a legal challenge.

Monday's proceedings were subject to a demonstration by a dozen protesters lying down in parliament's central lobby while chanting "vote no, Heathrow". They later left voluntarily.

"This Heathrow flight has failed all safety checks, yet ministers have boarded it anyway and persuaded a majority of MPs to go along with them.

"But we can't just look the other way while the whole dashboard flashes red with warning lights.

"The UK government won't be able to tackle illegal levels of air pollution, never mind leaving a healthier environment to the next generation, if a new Heathrow runway is built.

"If ministers don't want to uphold the laws protecting us from toxic fumes and climate change, we're going to ask a court to do that."

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who famously vowed to lie down in front of bulldozers to prevent expansion of the airport, was visiting Afghanistan and so skipped the vote.

The trip, during which Mr Johnson met NATO and Afghanistan officials as well as British troops, allowed the cabinet minister to avoid having to resign from government in order to register his disapproval of expanding Heathrow.

Business groups and airline leaders responded with delight. Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of business lobby group the CBI, described the support for expansion as a "truly historic decision" which will "open the doors to a new era in the UK's global trading relationships".

Mike Cherry, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said expanding the west London hub is "clearly in the long-term national interest of the UK economy".

He insisted that "the debate is now over, it is time to build".

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, the industry association representing UK carriers, described the vote as a "welcome shot in the arm for UK plc". He went on:

"Airlines stand ready to respond to the unlocking of new capacity by creating new routes and helping to connect the UK to new markets and destinations.

"The economic boost this will provide to all regions of the UK will be transformational."

If Heathrow is granted development consent following a planned public consultation, construction would begin in 2021 ahead of the third runway opening in 2026.</s>British MPs are set Monday to approve plans to build a third runway at London Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, after decades of debate.

Prime Minister Theresa May's government agreed to the £14 billion (15.9 billion euros, $18.5 billion) plan earlier this month, saying it would provide a major boost to the economy.

The House of Commons is expected to back the expansion despite opposition from many MPs from London and south-east England, where residents fear the extra pollution and noise from an increase in flights.

Among them is Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who once pledged to lie in front of bulldozers to stop construction, but was set to miss the last-minute vote due to a trip to Afghanistan.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said he was "cautiously optimistic" of securing approval for the plan, which officials say could create up to 114,000 local jobs by 2030.

"This is a momentous vote that has been 50 years in the making and represents the biggest transport decision in a generation," he said.

"At stake are thousands of new jobs and the country's ability to compete on an international stage and win new global trade."

Heathrow hopes to begin construction by 2021 although it must still obtain planning permission and could face legal challenges.

Grayling said the project would be funded by the private sector, adding that the government would work with Heathrow's operator to ensure costs are not passed on to airlines.

British Airways owner IAG has expressed concerns about higher landing charges for what it said is already the most expensive hub airport in the world.

Grayling also insisted the plan could be delivered without breaking Britain's commitments on climate change, and has sought to reassure locals with a ban on night flights.

However, Doug Parr, policy director for environmental campaign group Greenpeace UK, said: "A vote for a new Heathrow runway is a vote for more climate change, more air pollution, and more noise."

A junior trade minister and London MP, Greg Hands, quit the government last week to vote against the expansion, and criticised Johnson for dodging the decision.

"I wouldn't want to be abroad...#commitments," Hands wrote in a Twitter message.

May has ordered all her Conservative MPs to back the plan, but agreed to Johnson's trip, saying he would be the "living embodiment of global Britain" -- the slogan for Britain's future outside the EU.

The Afghan foreign ministry said Johnson held talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai on a range of issues, notably security.

In a letter to his constituents obtained by London's Evening Standard newspaper, he said he would continue to lobby within government against Heathrow.

"But it is clear from what is likely to be a large majority of MPs who are in favour of a third runway that my resignation would have achieved absolutely nothing," Johnson wrote.

The minister, a leading voice for Brexit in the government, added that given the "considerable difficulties" the project still faced, it may not even happen.

The main opposition Labour party is against Heathrow's expansion but has given its MPs a free vote and many will back the plan, particularly as it has trade union support.</s>Britain's Parliament approves third runway at Heathrow Airport on 415-119 vote

LONDON (AP) — Britain's Parliament approves third runway at Heathrow Airport on 415-119 vote.</s>LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Parliament approves third runway at Heathrow Airport on 415-119 vote.
The UK's House of Commons votes 415–119 to approve a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport.