Lord Foster's plans for a multi-billion pounds hub airport in Kent

by political editor Paul Francis

Boris Johnson said it would "strike fear into the heart of our European rivals".

But the Prime Minister has given the idea of an airport in Kent named after Margaret Thatcher short shrift.

But the plan has drawn the support of a clutch of MPs - including one of the fiercest opponents of "Boris Island", the Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless (pictured right).

He is one of 18 MPs who have signed an Early Day Motion which urges the government to commemorate "Baroness Thatcher's colossal achievements by renaming one of the UK's international airport Thatcher International Airport as an enduring testament to her contribution to the world."

The EDM - a parliamentary device used by backbench MPs to flag up issues to the government - was initiated by Stephen Metcalf, MP for Basildon South and Thurrock East.

Mr Johnson recently floated the idea of naming any new airport in the Thames Estuary after the former PM, saying: "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."

But his idea drew derision in some quarters, although many other cities have named airports after famous figures, including Paris and Liverpool.