FOREIGN Secretary Boris Johnson has branded Heathrow Airport’s expansion a “fantasy” destined for the “dustbin”.

The fiery remarks came after the former mayor of London was excluded from the key Cabinet committee that will decide on airport expansion.

It has been seen as a potential signal that Prime Minister Theresa May is getting ready to approve a new runway at Heathrow to boost the UK’s air capacity.

Mr Johnson has long supported an airport in the Thames Estuary, the so called Boris Island, a four-runway site opposite Southend on the Isle of Grain.

But the proposals were met with anger by some MPs and councillors, who labelled the scheme inappropriate, while others raised concerns about the impact it would have on the now-booming Southend Airport.

Mr Johnson warned that the taxpayer would foot the bill for the inevitable failure of Heathrow expansion.

He said: “As I’ve advocated for many years Heathrow expansion is the wrong choice, and if it is chosen it simply won’t get built,”

“The massive costs and enormous risks mean it’s undeliverable, and the taxpayer will be saddled with the bill for failure.

Mr Johnson added: “While we are finding this out our international competitors will be further extending their competitive advantage over us.

“We need to consign this Heathrow fantasy to the dustbin. We need a better solution.”