AN ATTEMPT to challenge for the right of MPs to vote on the issue of Heathrow expansion has been brushed aside by Gordon Brown.

This afternoon (Wednesday) Uxbridge MP John Randall (Con) used Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons to ask if Mr Brown would allow a vote on whether a third runway should be approved at the airport.

He referenced the protesters who last year invaded the Houses of Parliament to campaign against climate change and reminded Mr Brown he had said at the time all decisions on the matter would be taken inside the Commons and not on the roof.

However, Mr Brown replied saying it was a matter for the Secretary of State for Transport to deal with and that if the decision to grant permission was made MPs would get their say at the subsequent planning inquiry.

Speaking to the Gazette after the question time Mr Randall said: "It was obvious from his answer he is not going to allow a vote, which is disappointing. I think a vote is of vital importance because it will give people some faith in the democratic process.

"I think he's avoiding it because he knows they will lose."

Mr Randall also answered the critics who still believe the Conservatives will not fulfill their pledge to scrap the runway plans if they come to power in the next General Election.

He said: "I understand the cynicism because BAA has reneged on promises in the past and people may think we are going to do the same.

"Obviously there is the issue of how far along the plans are, when and if, we came to power. There is still potentially 18 months to go before an election must be called.

"If permission has been granted by that stage we will be well into the planning inquiries and if things were scrapped at that point there would be a lot of businesses seeking financial compensation.

"To my mind a U-Turn on our pledge would be unjustified as this issue matters a lot to me and more importantly it matters to the leader (David Cameron). He recognises the climate change problem and understands why the runway must be stopped."