PLANES attacked the House of Commons today in the latest skirmish in the battle against a new runway at Heathrow airport.


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The aircraft were made of paper and chucked from the roof of the Commons by a five-strong group out to highlight what they see as the undemocratic nature of the decision making process which will rule on whether a third runway can be built.

In this vein, among the protestors’ banners was one bearing the slogan “BAA HQ”, a jibe at the government’s alleged collusion with Heathrow’s owners. Another banner adopted the less conspiratorial approach, saying simply, “No third runway”.

The group, known as Plane Stupid, say they want to stay on the roof until at least Prime Minister’s Question Time, which starts this afternoon.

As with last weekend’s demo on top of a plane at Heathrow, this latest stunt has revealed clear security lapses at two of the country’s most important sites. Early reports suggested Plane Stupid had been given help by either sympathetic Palace of Westminster staff or MPs.

Under the third runway and associated schemes, about 50 per cent more flights could be handled at Heathrow by 2030. Protesters say this would be bad for global warming and bad for local noise pollution. BAA and the government argue that London needs to meet the challenge of expanding rival European hubs like Amsterdam and Pairs and that, in any case, newer planes will chuff out fewer greenhouse emissions.