Heathrow third runway: civil service chief 'warned ministers not to comment'

Sir Jeremy Heywood's intervention appears to reflect concerns that ministers' remarks could make final decision vulnerable to legal challenge

Britain's most senior civil servant warned ministers not to speak out publicly over proposals to build a third runway at Heathrow before the Conservative party conference, it has been reported.

Sir Jeremy Heywood, the cabinet secretary, wrote to ministers in the runup to the party conference season to caution them about commenting in public on the issue, according to the BBC.