![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/2.48060755.jpg\")
The British Labour Party’s John McDonnell has said the Heathrow Airport expansion could be scrapped under Labour’s plans to tackle the climate crisis.<\/p>\nThe British Labour Party’s John McDonnell has said the Heathrow Airport expansion could be scrapped under Labour’s plans to tackle the climate crisis.<\/p>\n
The shadow chancellor said the controversial plans for a third runway may be blocked if the party wins the UK’s General Election as part of its efforts to make the nation carbon-neutral by 2030.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, he told the BBC\u2019s The Andrew Marr Show: \u201cWe set ourselves criteria, one of which was environmental impact, the other was also economic impact and social impact.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the current criteria, we\u2019ve said very clearly, Heathrow expansion doesn\u2019t qualify.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pressed if Labour would cancel the extension, he said: \u201cAt the moment it does not qualify based on the criteria we set out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other expansions across the country including in Manchester would also be considered under the criteria, he said.<\/p>\n
Parliament gave the go-ahead last year for the expansion of the London airport, which published its \u201cmasterplan\u201d in June to build a third runway by 2026.<\/p>\n
Mr McDonnell also sought to reassure the Jewish community that Labour was trying to eradicate anti-Semitism after being shown three Jewish newspapers with highly-critical headlines.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so saddened by this. I just want to reassure them that we\u2019re doing everything we can,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything I said we would do we are doing in terms of the Labour Party in terms of eradicating anti-Semitism from the party.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr McDonnell also expressed optimism over Labour\u2019s chances in the December 12 election despite polls putting them far behind the Tories.<\/p>\n
Asked if it feels like a winning campaign, he said: \u201cIt does actually. I think the polls are coming our way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they are beginning to move in our direction. We know how far we are behind in the polls, not as far as in 2017.\u201d<\/p>\n