By-election candidates divided over future of Blackpool Airport

The future of Blackpool Airport has proved a divisive topic among candidates standing in the Blackpool South by-election.

While the Conservative and Reform UK candidates stand firmly behind campaigns to bring commercial passenger flights back to the Squires Gate terminal, others are against such moves.

Although the hub, which is owned by Blackpool Council, is successfully operating with activities including helicopter flights, pilot training and private aircraft facilities, it does not have any commercial passenger flights.

The council has said such as move would not make economic sense.

At a hustings debate held at Blackpool Cricket Club, residents were warned the airport needed investment of £77m to bring back holiday flights.

Labour candidate Chris Webb said "unlike the previous MP I would not promise to re-open it" due to the burden such a move would place on tax-payers.

Lib Dem Andrew Cregan said it was a question of commercial viability and "we're not going to use taxpayers' money to plug that gap because there are far more pressing issues we need to address in Blackpool and subsidising an airport is not at the top of the agenda."

Green Party candidate Ben Thomas agreed there "were better things to spend money on" while both Kim Knight (Alliance for Democracy and Freedom) and Independent Stephen Black said a decision could only be made if a referendum was held among residents.

But Conservative David Jones and Mark Butcher from Reform UK both said investment in the airport was key to reinvigorating Blackpool.

Mr Butcher said: "If we want to rejuvenate our town we need to add a light railway to Blackpool Airport. It makes economic sense to have a viable airport in Blackpool and I'm 100 per cent behind it."

Mr Jones said the airport was key to bringing skilled jobs to the resort and added he was "absolutely in favour" of the airport.

He said: "The bit you are missing is the amount of investment that comes in when a commercial airport is open, the job opportunities it creates. That is how you get to build a future for a town."