Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declined to state whether he supports construction of a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport.
The expansion scheme at the UK's largest and busiest aviation hub was previously backed by the Government under his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, as a driver for economic growth.
Former chancellor Rachel Reeves had also thrown her weight behind the plan during a major speech, claiming it would generate 100,000 jobs.
However, speaking in an interview marking the start of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Mr Burnham refused to confirm whether he favoured the project proceeding.
"Principally, it’s a matter for London and Londoners," he told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg when asked if he would back the move.
He sidestepped queries regarding his personal stance, explaining that he intended to await the outcome of a consultation process.
"It’s not right for me to just jump straight in on the back of the consultation," he said.
He later added: "I think it’s right that we hear what people have said through the consultation, and then consider the way forward from there."
His comments follow a four-year delay to the project's original 2035 deadline, with airport executives understood to have told the Government that meeting the timeline set by Ms Reeves is impossible.
Heathrow management aims to secure planning permission by 2029, anticipating that constructing the new runway within the following decade is a reasonable target.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: "It’s right that ambitious targets were set; the sooner expansion begins, the sooner the whole UK will benefit. Our focus has always been to secure planning permission by 2029.
"Once achieved, the runway will be open within a decade – and the benefits of expansion can be felt from today. At least 108,000 new jobs and billions invested in supply chains in every part of the country.
"This is a national project, 100% privately financed, which will support growth today and secure the UK’s position in the global economy once the runway opens."
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated earlier this week that an expanded airport could serve as "the country’s front door" to visitors from China and India.
Speaking to The Telegraph, she added that the environmental impact of additional flights could be offset "holistically" elsewhere across the wider economy.
