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Shameless Boris Johnson faces calls to quit from his own party after fleeing to Afghanistan to dodge a Commons vote on expanding Heathrow Airport.

The Foreign Secretary once claimed he would lie down in front of the bulldozers to stop the £14bn plan for a third runway.

Now the mop-haired millionaire won't even give up his job.

Mr Johnson would be forced to resign from government if he voted against the airport - which MPs are expected to back at 10pm tonight.

So instead he set off on a trip abroad - which the Afghan Foreign Affairs Ministry finally confirmed was to Afghanistan after days of speculation.

(Image: @mfa_afghanistan/Twitter)

(Image: @mfa_afghanistan/Twitter)

Earlier Transport Secretary Chris Grayling had admitted: "I have no idea where Boris is. I have genuinely no idea where Boris is." Even Downing Street could not confirm - saying only he was "travelling".

Defiant Mr Johnson told constituents today the third runway might not even get built - and claimed: "My resignation would have achieved absolutely nothing."

But senior Tory backbencher Sarah Wollaston demanded he put "his money where his mouth is" and quit.

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(Image: PA)

"Just being conveniently out of the country I’m afraid won’t wash," she told the BBC.

"I think this would be an opportunity for a colleague like Boris Johnson to actually put his money where his mouth is.

"[Voters] might expect him to use this as an opportunity and to resign on a point of principle in order to fulfil that election promise."

Tory MP Robert Halfon added resigning would be " a good thing" and "he would be respected by his constituents."

Mr Halfon added: "If he’s made promises to his constituents he needs to explain to them why he’s not able to be at the vote."

(Image: PA)

PM Theresa May's spokesman refused to say whether she gave Boris Johnson permission to go abroad - or when she found out he was going.

Asked repeatedly if she thought he was an "honourable man", the spokesman eventually said: "Yes."

“It’s not uncommon for ministers to be slipped when they have interests abroad," No10 added.

But Tory ex-Cabinet minister Stephen Crabb warned Boris would "need to look his constituents in the eye and explain where he was" during the vote.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

And Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "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?

"And his chaos and confusion surrounding the EU negotiations and constant differences of opinion with the Government.

"You really ask the question, why is he still there?"

In his letter to constituents Mr Johnson wrote: “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.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

“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.

“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 3rd runway ever comes about.”

MPs are expected to finally approve Heathrow Airport's £14bn third runway plans tonight after decades of dither and delay.

But both parties are badly split.

Tories have been told to vote in favour, but several with seats near the west London hub are expected to rebel.

Labour meanwhile is officially against, but the Unite union is in favour - with boss Len McCluskey writing to MPs urging them to back the expansion.

So Labour MPs have been given a 'free vote' and scores are expected to vote for the airport - while Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, votes against.

There was a last-minute wobble as the SNP, who were thought to back the plans, told the Mirror they had still not made up their minds.

But Theresa May was expected to cruise to victory regardless because of the number of Labour MPs in favour.

(Image: WPA Pool)

Asked about Mr Johnson, Mr Grayling insisted it was clear people "have long held views about the airport and we are not going to whip those people into voting."

He added it was a matter for Boris.

Yet that contradicted his own party's policy because one anti-Heathrow minister, Trade Minister Greg Hands, has already been forced to resign.

Mr Hands tweeted pointedly: "Great to arrive back in the UK at Luton Airport... to vote against Heathrow expansion tomorrow.

"I wouldn’t want to be abroad for either of those."

Ahead of the vote, officials said the expansion of Heathrow would create 114,000 extra jobs in the area around the airport by 2030, with an extra 16 million long-haul seats by 2040.

(Image: AFP)

It would represent the first full-length runway in the south east since the Second World War, the Department for Transport said.

Mr Grayling outlined five pledges over the Heathrow expansion:

No cost to taxpayers

An economic boost providing 100,000 jobs

Guaranteed benefits for the whole country including internal flights, rail links and "global opportunities" for regional firms

Built-in environmental protections

The ability to fine Heathrow or ground aircraft if Heathrow breaks its own promises over the scheme.

But Tory MP Justine Greening warned there were still questions about whether the taxpayer will end up footing the bill.

And green groups have warned they will mount a legal challenge - as the process still isn't over after tonight's vote.

(Image: PA)

Labour MPs including Luciana Berger, John Mann, Mike Gapes and Wes Streeting signed a joint letter backing the airport.

Labour said that the expansion plan failed to meet its four tests for support: increased capacity, CO2 reduction, minimised noise and shared benefits across the UK.

But the MPs wrote: "Monday night's vote is not a blank cheque.

"The huge benefits from expansion can only be achieved if Heathrow also meets stringent tests on air quality and noise.

"We will work to ensure legally binding safeguards are in place that will mean a new runway can only be built if it is environmentally sustainable."

Labour frontbencher Jenny Chapman, a shadow Brexit minister, added: "I’m going to be voting for a third runway.

"I think they’ll be more than 40 [Labour] MPs doing that."