David Ottewell's Politics

On Oxford Road, outside Sainsbury’s. Seriously – what the hell is going on here?

The response to Peel Holdings’ suggestion that Manchester Airport Group be sold off for public transport improvements – instead of a local congestion charge – couldn’t have been more emphatic. It isn’t going to happen.
I’ve had a few emails over the last two days suggesting my last blog entry on the subject gave Peel an easy ride over the fact they already own a number of airports, and might bid for Manchester if it ever came on the market.
I’d like to make a number of points:
- This issue is raised – by both me and other people – in today’s news story, and yesterday’s news story, in the paper. People can make up their own minds.
- The open letter by Sir Richard Leese and Sir Howard Bernstein, reprinted in full in today’s paper, does not say that Peel wanted to come in and discuss buying the airport. It says simply that Peel boss John Whittaker wanted to come in and discuss his suggestion the airport be sold. As a major airport owner, that’s perfectly reasonable; who better to talk about how much MAG might be worth, and what effects the sale would have?
- We’ve put the question to Peel directly, and reported their answer accordingly. They would not rule themselves out of any sale, but they also pointed out that airport prices are inflated at the moment, as they are being snapped up by huge banks.
- The suggestion that MAG be sold should be judged on its merits. If there are concerns about Peel as a potential owner, the correct time to address those would be when the terms and conditions of sale were being drawn up.
- What exactly are the supposed concerns about Peel as potential owners, anyway? They have huge holdings in Manchester (the Trafford Centre, MediacityUK, etc.) They are a massively successful business with a track record of running airports. Their economic success depends on the success of the city-region, and that means maximising the potential of the airport. If there are specific worries about Peel, let’s hear them.
It may be that there are good financial reasons for keeping the airport in public ownership, not least the fact it keeps council tax bills down. It may be sensible to do so simply because it gives elected people control of one of the major economic levers of our region. But the sale is a reasonable suggestion and should not be dismissed out of hand. Will it happen? Clearly not. Has it added to the debate? Yes.