Airport protesters rally in Reeves' constituency
BBCProtesters have gathered in the chancellor's Leeds West constituency to rally against the planned expansion of Heathrow Airport.
Rachel Reeves earlier pledged government support for a third runway at Heathrow, saying it could create 100,000 jobs.
In a major speech on economic growth in Oxfordshire, Reeves said a third runway was "badly needed", and that the government "cannot duck the decision any longer".
Campaigners from the Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport gathered in her constituency, branding the move "mad, bad and irresponsible".
In her speech to business leaders, Reeves said: "I can confirm today that this government supports a third runway at Heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer.
"We will then take forward a full assessment through the airport national policy statement.
"This will ensure that the project is value for money and our clear expectation is that any associated service transport costs will be financed through private funding.
"It will ensure that a third runway is delivered in line with our legal, environmental and climate objectives."
'Not listening to the scientists'
The Group for Action said it wanted the government to accept the recommendations of its advisers, the Climate Change Committee, and prevent the expansion of UK airports until there was a "large-scale solution to aviation's greenhouse gas emissions problem".
Group secretary Ian Coatman said: "What Rachel Reeves has done is to make a decision to increase CO2 emissions.
"We think that is mad, it's bad and we think it's also irresponsible.
"A responsible government would be thinking of the futures of all of us and she would be listening to the scientists and all scientific advisers have said for a long time now there should be no airport expansion until there's proven technologies to reduce CO2.
"But she doesn't appear to be listening to the scientists, she's listening to the airport bosses - they're the only ones who are going to benefit from this."
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