LABOUR MP Virendra Sharma has praised the government decision on a third runway for Heathrow and is hopeful for local job opportunities. 

In a statement made on his Facebook page, the Ealing Southall MP claims to have 'changed his mind on Heathrow', after it was announced that plans to develop a third runway were approved.

The new runway will be placed less than 2km away from Mr Sharma’s constituency and is estimated to cost £17bn.

Mr Sharma said today: “Heathrow is the backbone of the West London economy and now that there is appropriate mitigation and compensation in place for local communities, I’m pleased that the Government have made the right decision.”

Chris Grayling announced the news today at Parliament that the airport has been given the green light to start developing a third runway, which will likely be finished in 2025.

Mr Sharma was previously against the third runway development, saying it was 'unsympathetic to local residents'. 

He was so against the idea that he resigned from his position as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of the State in 2009 over the proposals.

Mr Sharma backtracked however and in August, the Labour MP wrote in his CITY A.M column: “Expansion won’t just continue to provide the jobs that we currently have, but it guarantees up to 40,000 new jobs and £35bn of economic growth in London alone. Heathrow will also double the number of apprentices from 5,000 to 10,000.

“But it isn’t only those directly employed by Heathrow who stand to gain from expansion.

"With thousands more employed in my borough, Ealing, and across London, there will be many more people spending money in the local economy, meaning more jobs locally and success for local small businesses.”