The heated debate came as the government prepares to publish its decision on which expansion proposal it plans to back.
Earlier this year the government appointed Airports Commission came down in favour of a new north-west runway at Heathrow.
Despite the setback, rival Gatwick airport has continued to lobby for a new second runway and has attracted the support of a number of influential MPs – many of whom represent constituencies, which would be affected by an expanded Heathrow.
The current mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who is also MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, said that Heathrow was “in the wrong place for expansion”
Johnson added: “There are other, better, more practical solutions on the table. The House knows what they are. I do not have time to rehearse them now, but they are infinitely preferable.
“They do deliver the long-term solutions, they are environmentally sensitive, they do enhance the competitiveness and the connectivity of this country, and, by the way, they could be achieved at a roughly comparable cost.”
Both of Johnson’s likely successors, Tory Zac Goldsmith and Labour candidate Sadiq Khan are also both anti Heathrow.
Khan highlighted the air quality problems around Heathrow and said capacity could be improved by expanding Gatwick.
“[Sir Howard] Davies ruled out the proposed fantasy estuary airport on an island, because it is nonsense, but he did not rule out a new runway at Gatwick. It is important for us to understand the benefits of a new runway at Gatwick airport,” he said.
Goldsmith highlighted competition concerns and the damage done to neighbouring airports.
“We would be recreating the old monopoly—a giant, foreign-owned, subsidised monopoly on the edge of our city. It is a pitifully small upside, even more so when compared with the colossal dose of pain that Heathrow expansion encompasses,” he said.
Other MPs from across the political spectrum also rounded on Heathrow.
Tania Mathias (Twickenham, Conservative), Ruth Cadbury (Brentford and Isleworth, Labour), Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton, Labour) all voiced strong opinions against Heathrow.
However, the UK’s only hub airport did get support from the likes of Sir Gerald Howarth (Aldershot, Conservative) and Sir Simon Burns (Chelmsford, Conservative).
