Coalition's "wasted year" over aviation commission as Mayor Boris Johnson brands it a "fudge-arama"

As the government have announced an independent commission on aviation the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg dismissed talk of a Government U-turn on building a third runway at Heathrow, as he insisted the Coalition Agreement meant "it will not happen during this Parliament". However, while he ruled out any change of direction from the Liberal Democrats, Mr Clegg said he could not speak for the Conservative Party. "What other parties want to do in their own manifestos at the General Election of 2015 is entirely up to them," he said during a visit to Mulberry School for Girls in East London.

Shadow Transport Secretary, Maria Eagle responding to the announcement of an independent commission on aviation, said: "The Government’s wasted year of dither and delay since Labour first proposed an independent commission on aviation last Autumn has let down business and damaged the long term prospects for jobs and growth. While it is a positive step forward that a commission is now to be established, the Prime Minister’s decision that it will not report until after the next election is further evidence of his weak leadership. Labour will now work constructively with the commission as it seeks to achieve consensus on future aviation capacity consistent with minimising the local environmental impact and meeting our climate change commitments."

Natalie Bennett the leader of the Green party said that "It is a bad sign that a third runway at Heathrow is indeed back on the government's agenda, as reports have been suggesting. The aviation industry depends on huge public subsidies. The government seems happy to keep spending public money on increasing CO2 emissions in an industry that's slanted towards serving the wealthy, while making the lives of millions a misery through noise and air pollution."

Meanwhile the London Mayor Boris Johnson accused David Cameron of a "fudge-arama" over Heathrow, as the row over a third runway overshadowed the completion of the Prime Minister's first full-scale ministerial reshuffle. At the first meeting of his reshaped Cabinet in Downing Street, Mr Cameron told ministers that he wanted every Government department to focus on economic growth.

And he indicated that he would seek all-party involvement in a commission to review the future provision of airport capacity in the South-East of England, which will hear representations from those arguing for a third runway at Heathrow. Unconfirmed reports suggested that the commission, which may not report until after the general election, would be chaired by former head of the Financial Services Authority Sir Howard Davies.

Mr Cameron said that he would not ditch his manifesto pledge - repeated in the coalition agreement of 2010 - not to expand the west London airport during the course of this Parliament, despite business clamour for more flights. He told MPs: "While I believe we need to establish a form of review that will bring parties together and make a decision about airport capacity, I will not be breaking my manifesto pledge."

But Mr Johnson urged him to go further and take the third runway off the table altogether for the period beyond the 2015 election, warning he would lead a campaign against the proposal if it was revived. The London Mayor said he feared there was a "stealthy U-turn" under way, backed by Chancellor George Osborne, and described Mr Cameron's proposed consultation process as "just a fudge-arama and just an excuse for delay".

"If such a commission were not to report until after the next election we'd have lost a huge amount of time," said the Mayor, who is calling for a new airport on an artificial island in the Thames estuary. Asked if he would lead a campaign against expansion at Heathrow, Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "You bet I will, yes."

The Independent candidate for London Mayor in May Siobhan Benita was the only mayoral candidate who promised to work for a third runway at Heathrow. Saying during the campaign: "All the evidence shows the best option is to expand the national hub we already have. Building a whole new airport in the Thames Estuary would be disastrous for the environment, while putting additional runways at Gatwick or Stansted would lead to more journeys in between." Mrs Benita's stance got her the support of the former Conservative cabinet minister Michael Portillo.