MPs back Heathrow third runway project as Johnson faces criticism

Plan passes with majority of 296 but foreign secretary was flying back from Afghanistan

Boris Johnson has faced sharp criticism from fellow Conservative MPs over his decision to miss Monday night's crunch vote on Heathrow expansion by flying out of the country on an official visit to Afghanistan.

The foreign secretary claimed that resigning over his opposition to the 14bn project, which the Commons backed on Monday night by 415 votes to 119 - a majority of 296, would achieve "absolutely nothing" and that he would lobby against it privately instead.