New transport minister Grant Schapps previously clashed with former prime minister Theresa May over the issue as chair of the British Infrastructure Group of Parliamentarians.
In 2016, he urged her to make a decision on airport expansion, telling her: “Wherever it’s going to go, for heaven’s sake, just get on with it.”
Boris Johnson, however, previously said he will “lie down in front of the bulldozers” to stop Heathrow being expanded.
Schapps, the former Tory chairman and minister for international development, resigned from his previous roles amid revelations that he did not act over bullying in the party’s youth wing.
He succeeds Chris Grayling as transport minister. Grayling was dubbed ‘Failing Grayling’ after refusing to intervene in rail chaos, saying it was not his responsibility.
