There is a 'strong consensus' among CBI members that a third runway for Heathrow airport must go ahead, according to director general Richard Lambert.

Lambert told the Financial Times he did not want to 'get into a punch-up' with 13 leading executives who called for a halt to the third runway in favour of more high speed rail.

But, he said: 'For a majority of our members the argument is that the UK needs a hub airport rather than being at the end of a branch line from France and the Netherlands.'

Financial Times