Twickenham’s MP joined a group of academics, global NGOs, scientists and campaigners in writing to David Cameron urging him to rule out Heathrow expansion and address London’s air quality last week.

The World Health Organisation referred to the air quality issue as a “global public health emergency” and a Royal College of Physicians report released in February reported 40,000 UK deaths a year could be attributed to exposure to outdoor air pollution.

Tania Mathias and the group called on the Government to revise its air quality plan following a Department for Transport report regarding nitrogen dioxide levels in the wake of the VW scandal, which found emissions were more than five times higher than previously thought.

Air quality around Heathrow is occasionally in breach of European limits and Dr Mathias, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Heathrow and the Wider Economy, said expanding the airport would be “an environmental disaster.”

The Twickenham MP said: “This is a very impressive group of air quality experts with a clear message that the Government has to re-do the UK air quality plan before any announcement on airport expansion.

“I hope the Prime Minister will put pollution and the health of Londoners as a top priority by ruling out Heathrow expansion once and for all.”

Read the full letter at heathrowappg.com/air-quality-letter-to-prime-minister/