Transport Secretary Chris Grayling will tell Parliament the Government’s decision on which South East airport to expand with a new runway later on today.

The new runway is widely expected to be announced for Heathrow over Gatwick after the case for the west London airport had "strengthened in recent months" to become "overwhelming" according to Sir Howard Davies who led a report on the issue last year.

Many airlines and business groups have come out in support of expanding Heathrow, which is already Britain’s busiest airport and offers more direct connections and freight than its rival Gatwick.

However, the move is opposed by residents of west London as well as cabinet members such as Education Secretary Justine Greening and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

Zac Goldsmith, Tory MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, has vowed to resign if it goes ahead.
The decision will be subject to a year’s consultation before a final vote in Parliament. Only then can the project enter the planning process, with construction expected to begin in 2020 or 2021.