Julian Knight MP was thanked by MPs from across the United Kingdom for organising a special Parliamentary debate on the future of the country’s regional airports.
Representatives from the North of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and from several parties including the Opposition, joined him in Westminster Hall to make the case for cutting Air Passenger Duty (APD) to help regional airports attract business.
Rebecca Long Bailey MP, Labour’s shadow Exchequer Secretary, said: “I offer my thanks and congratulations to the hon. Member for Solihull on securing an important debate on a topic that is of concern to me not only in my capacity as shadow Exchequer Secretary, but because my constituency will be affected.”
Nigel Dodds MP, the leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party, and Drew Hendry MP, the SNP transport spokesman, congratulated Julian on securing the special debate, as did Jonathan Edwards MP of Plaid Cymru.
With the Government’s devolution proposals set to devolve control over APD to Scotland, and possibly Wales and Manchester too, Julian is determined to make sure that Birmingham Airport is not disadvantaged.
Commenting on the debate, Julian said:
“Birmingham Airport is an important source of prosperity and jobs here in Solihull, and I intend to continue fighting to make sure that it can thrive. My call for an Air Passenger Duty holiday for new routes would reinvigorate our local airports, many of which have suffered a steep decline in international connections since the tax was introduced.
“I’m very pleased to have received such strong support from all the major parties, and from all four corners of our United Kingdom."