PROTESTERS are looking at the positives after the Government narrowly avoided defeat following a Parliamentary debate on the need to expand Heathrow Airport.

The Conservatives called the discussion after the Prime Minister refused to allow MPs to hold an official vote on his decision to grant permission for BAA to press ahead with plans for a third runway.

It took place yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon and was followed by a vote calling for the £9 billion scheme to be scrapped. Campaigners had earlier demonstrated to persuade all 57 Labour MPs who had signed early day motions against the airport in the past to side with the opposition parties.

In the end eight Democratic Unionists in the House of Commons had the final say as they helped the Government win by just 19 votes. Despite this, members of HACAN and other groups are hailing it the biggest rebellion since Labour came to power in 1997.

Two Labour MPs, Andy Slaughter from Ealing, Acton and Shepherds Bush, and Virendra Sharma, from Ealing and Southall, resigned from their junior ministerial posts in opposition to the Government's plans for a 3rd runway.

John Stewart, the Chairman of HACAN, said: "This vote is another nail in the coffin for the Government's plans to build a 3rd runway. It becomes less likely by the day that the runway will ever be built."

John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, was among the Labour rebels who sided with the opposition during the vote.