UK finance minister backs expansion of London’s Heathrow Airport [Video]

U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves on Wednesday unveiled plans to deliver a shot in the arm for the country’s ailing economy, signaling she backs the long-delayed expansion of one of the world’s busiest airports.

In a major growth speech in Oxfordshire, Reeves said that a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport was “badly needed,” adding it would boost investment, support economic expansion and potentially create over 100,000 jobs.

Citing research from the consultancy Frontier Economics, Reeves suggested a third runway at Heathrow could increase gross domestic product by 0.43% by 2050, with much of that boost going to areas outside of London and the southeast of the country.

Her comments came amid a series of project announcements to reform the …