How a sign to Margaret Thatcher airport might look

by Alan McGuinness

A huge international airport in Kent should be named after Margaret Thatcher.

That's the suggestion of London Mayor Boris Johnson, who said the move would be a fitting way of remembering the country's first female leader, who died this week aged 87.

Mr Johnson, who has been pushing for an airport in the county since he was elected five years ago, told the Daily Mail: "Mega airports are springing up all over the continent that are stealing British trade and are a threat to our economy.

"It is why this country so desperately needs a new four runway hub airport and I can think of no name that would strike greater fear into the heart of our European rivals than Margaret Thatcher International Airport."

Prime Minister David Cameron gave the idea short shrift in a television interview.

Mr Cameron laughed when asked about the suggestion on Sky News and said: "Anything to get more progress on his airport."

Boris Johnson said the name would strike fear into the heart of our European rivals

Baroness Thatcher was in power from 1979-90 - the longest period in office of any Prime Minister in the 20th century.

Mr Johnson's suggestion will likely raise eyebrows among many in the county who are fiercely opposed to an airport in the estuary.

Medway Council, the RSPB and Medway’s three Conservative MPs are all against the idea.

Chatham MP Tracey Crouch said: "I don't want a Thames Estuary airport at all, regardless of what it's called.

"We have a statue in Parliament - I think that's fine as far as I'm concerned."

Labour leader Cllr Vince Maple said he was "shocked" at the suggestion, which he labeled "unhelpful".

He added: "Regardless of what people are looking to call it, the arguments haven’t changed.

"The name is irrelevant, it’s the principle that’s fundamentally flawed for all the reasons we’ve laid out in the past."

Opponents claim an airport is not necessary, would cost too much money and devastate the environment.

Margaret Thatcher on a visit to Walderslade Girls' School in 1987

Supporters argue it would bring jobs and investment to the area.

Demand Regeneration in North Kent, a group of businessmen, claims politicians have been too quick to come out against the idea.

Campaign Director Clive Lawrence said: "It’s a possibility. The time will come when they will have to choose a name and that will be up to the government.

"We don’t have a strong view either way. There’s plenty of precedent for it."

The United States has an airport named after former president Ronald Reagan, while former French president Charles de Gaulle has an airport bearing his name in Paris.

The government is due to make a decision on the idea after the next election in 2015.