On Monday Parliament decided to build the third runway at Heathrow. Now I am in favour but I am not happy.

I’m in favour for many reasons, starting with the fact that Heathrow is the country’s largest port for exports by value for markets outside the EU; moving over 30% of the UK’s exports in 2017 importantly to most global destinations but ... 

I am not happy that billions will be spent in infrastructure improvements in London and the South East whilst the North gets nothing. Constituents can’t get a direct train yet to Manchester International Airport. 

It’s about time that the North had billions too and an infrastructure plan that was coherent.

It’s clear to me that Manchester Airport should be the North’s hub airport like Heathrow generating billions for the North’s economy attracting as a primary asset, billions in infrastructure investment. 

Complaining about the environmental impact (climate change targets) of extra runway capacity at Heathrow is meaningless when we have so many regional airports. The UK can cut the numbers of flights leaving the UK from any number of airports. 

The truth is Heathrow makes the UK economy money and a third runway will make more money for the UK economy.

Regional airports’ economic activity is a fraction of Heathrow’s (or Manchester’s) and whose main use is low-cost holiday flights or worse, providing connecting flights to rival European airports such as Charles De Gaulle, Schipol (Amsterdam) and Frankfurt, simply boosting the economies of France, Holland and Germany instead of Heathrow or Manchester.

The North needs a hub airport because carrying passengers through and to other destinations helps sell extra tickets and fill planes and makes more destinations, more often more viable. A billion-pound rail and road system to that one airport would also increase destinations and economic activity.

So whilst I will vote for economic infrastructure improvement at Heathrow, the UK cannot fall behind its European rivals.  I want the environmental issues addressed by looking at all airports and I want as Andy Burnham has demanded billions for the North but particularly for a hub airport and transport network into Manchester.