Hayes MP suspended after protest in the commons (From Hillingdon Times)

Hayes MP suspended after protest in the commons

1:49pm Thursday 15th January 2009

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JOHN McDonnell MP has been removed from the House of Commons after protesting over plans for Heathrow expansion.

Mr McDonnell repeatedly shouted "disgrace" when the transport secretary Geoff Hoon told MPs they will not get a vote on the decision over expansion.

He refused requests to end his protest and was ordered out of the Commons and suspended for a week.

Several cabinet members are reported to be against the plans for a third runway, with more than 50 MPs openly opposed.

Mr Hoon has told MPs today the government was satisfied environmental targets could be met for a third runway.

He said it would put an initial cap on additional flights from the new runway.

He also said the government would ensure "green slots" used by only the "cleanest planes".

But Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said: "If Gordon Brown thinks this is a green runway then he must be colour-blind. This package is designed to patch up a cabinet split and will do very little to reduce the huge environmental impact of an expanded Heathrow, which will now become the single biggest emitter of carbon-dioxide in the country.

"These new emissions caps aren’t even legally binding. The loopholes in this are so big you could fly a jumbo jet through them."

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