Heathrow Airport - LIVE: Boris Johnson in Afghanistan as foreign secretary avoids Commons vote on third runway

Ed Davey, Lib Dem MP for Kingston and Surbiton, who opposes Heathrow expansion, is the latest to lay into Boris' attempts to avoid the vote.

Labour’s position on the Heathrow vote shows once and for all that it isn’t green - Natalie Bennett 

A reminder of where we're at today: 

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has flown to Afghanistan to avoid a crucial Commons vote on the expansion of Heathrow Airport which could have seen him forced to quit the Government.

The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed he had met deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai for talks in Kabul after the Foreign Office had earlier refused to disclose his destination on "security grounds".

Earlier Mr Johnson defended his decision not to take part in the vote, saying his resignation would have achieved "absolutely nothing".

The Foreign Secretary faced widespread derision after he chose to be out of the country on official business on Monday despite his long-standing opposition to a third runway.

His absence meant he was able to avoid a choice between voting against Heathrow expansion on a three-line whip, which would have meant quitting as Foreign Secretary, or supporting the Government in order to keep his job.

In an open letter to constituents in his west London seat, quoted in the Evening Standard, he said: "My resignation would have achieved absolutely nothing."

Jeremy Corbyn poured scorn on Mr Johnson's decision to stay away, despite his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency lying under the Heathrow flight path and his past promise to "lie down in front of those bulldozers" to prevent expansion going ahead.

The Labour leader told the Press Association: "I would have thought, if nothing else, as a constituency MP he would want to be in the Commons because, after all, his constituency is very, very near to Heathrow, and he has in the past made very strong statements against Heathrow, and, indeed, once he promised to lie down in front of a bulldozer on it.

"If he is unable to be present, then we have to ask the question 'what on Earth is he doing and who is he representing?"' In his letter, Mr Johnson said he had been urged by local councillors to carry on in office so that he could continue to oppose a third runway from within the Government.

"I have long been an opponent of a third runway at Heathrow and that is why I am not voting for it tonight.

"I have made clear my opposition since joining the Government, and I will continue to lobby colleagues from within government.

"Some of my critics have suggested that I should resign over the issue.

"No doubt they have my best interests at heart.

"But it is clear from what is likely to be a large majority of MPs who are in favour of a third runway that my resignation would have achieved absolutely nothing.

"Hillingdon council have been emphatic that they would rather have me in the Cabinet and fighting for their cause on this and other issues."

He added: "On election night I promised with John McDonnell, the Labour MP, to lie in front of the bulldozers.

"In view of the very considerable difficulties that still face the third runway, its cost and the appalling air and noise pollution entailed by the project, I believe it will be a very long time before we have to make good on that pledge; if indeed a third runway ever comes about."

Heathrow expansion is yet another issue dividing the Labour Party. 

Jeremy Corbyn has signaled that Labour could scrap Heathrow expansion if it gains power, but it comes as Len McCluskey, Unite general secretary, said the union would back the third runway. 

Asked if Labour could halt Heathrow expansion if it gets into government, Mr Corbyn said: "It depends what stage the whole thing has got to by then.

"We would look very carefully at airport capacity all across the South East because there is under-used capacity at both Luton and Stansted, and there is a need, I think, to up the usage of Birmingham and other airports.

"And Manchester is developing as a hub as well. Not everybody wants to fly to London in order to fly out of London."

Labour is officially opposed to the expansion but Mr Corbyn has allowed MPs a free vote on a measure that is supported by trade unions but opposed by the shadow chancellor John McDonnell.

A nice illustration of the Labour split - two MPs tweeting withing five minutes on Heathrow expansion, but with very different messages.

The Foreign Office has just put out a press release about Boris Johnson's trip to Afghanistan. There's a conspicuous lack of a mention of Heathrow. 

It says he traveled to Kabul to "show support for recent positive developments in the country. 

He's quoted as saying: “At this important moment when Afghan-led efforts towards peace and a political settlement have gained considerable impetus, I was proud and inspired to be in Kabul to see how the UK is working in support of the Afghan Government to achieve this goal.

“In my meetings with President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah, I welcomed their historic offer of unconditional talks earlier this year, and their determined recent efforts towards a political process with the Taliban.

“I urge all countries with influence in Afghanistan, especially in the neighbourhood, to use it constructively at this crucial moment."

We're going to wrap up our coverage of Where's Boris, but to follow all the latest in Parliament and the upcoming vote on Heathrow expansion, head here.