Heathrow delays send wrong signal to UK visitors, say London business leaders

Business leaders in London today joined calls for an overhaul of border checks at Heathrow as they warned that long queues “send the wrong signal” to people coming to this country.

London First, which represents many of the capital’s biggest employers, said delays at passport control and “inefficient processes” gave a “terrible welcome” and that major changes were needed to boost the economy.

It said the measures should include more e-gates to speed up passport checks and the trialling of new technology to allow secure but “barrier-free” entry to the country to more people.

It also called for visa processes to be streamlined and the “modernisation of working practices at the border itself” as part of a package of reforms to show that Britain was open to the world.

British Airways warned yesterday that “totally unacceptable” queues at Heath­row are undermining Britain’s image.

The airline, which has written to immigration minister Caroline Nokes seeking a meeting to address the problems, warned that some passengers were being forced to wait for more than two and a half hours on arrival.

It also revealed that official waiting time targets for clearing immigration have already been missed on more than 3,500 occasions this year and the situation was getting worse with the peak summer holiday period still to come.

Jasmine Whitbread, London First chief executive, said: “Landing at our airports is like arriving at the UK’s front door, and being greeted by long queues and inefficiency is a terrible welcome.”

The Home Office has insisted it is keen to ensure efficient border checks and to minimise queues, but that it will not compromise on security.

Labour’s leadership today flatly rejected plans for a third runway at Heathrow but will give its MPs a free vote to avoid a major revolt. It said the plans had failed tests on air quality, climate change and whether the runway is deliverable. A fourth test, on regional benefits, was “not yet met”.

A Heathrow spokesman said: “We are disappointed that Labour have disregarded much of the evidence on how their four tests will be met by Heathrow expansion.”