UK election aviation impact: Heathrow runway prospects improve; questions over Scotland, regions

The surprise UK General Election result, giving the conservative party an absolute majority, augurs well for Heathrow's runway proposals but poses more questions than it answers about Scotland and the English regions.

This report outlines the 7-May-2015 result and its likely implications for aviation in the UK. The Conservative Party's outright victory came at the expense of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, both of whose leaders immediately resigned. The result means that the Conservatives will probably be able to govern with a slender overall majority for another five years.

Meanwhile, in Scotland, the three main 'English' parties were annihilated, with almost every seat going to the left leaning Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP). While it is still early days we conclude that the vote will be a much-needed fillip for Heathrow Airport's hopes of building a third runway while Scotland might consider that starting to build its own unique aviation system as Ireland has done might be better than continuing its support for Heathrow as it edges closer to independence.