The prime minister has been criticised by Labour after taking a private plane for a visit to Leeds yesterday morning.
Rishi Sunak took an RAF plane for his 200-mile trip up to Chapel Allerton to meet staff and patients at Rutland Lodge Medical Practice. Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner called for the prime minister to reveal 'how much money was wasted' on taking a plane rather than going by other means.
A spokesperson for Downing Street has defended the decision, saying Sunak flew due to "a great deal of pressure on his time". The UK Government has pledged to have a net zero carbon emissions economy by 2050.
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The train journey from London King's Cross to Leeds station generally takes under two and a half hours. The drive to Rutland Lodge practice from the station is about 15 minutes.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The transport the Prime Minister takes will vary and will always be done in the interest of what is the most effective use of his time, enabling him to get around the entirety of the UK when there is a great deal of pressure on his time. It will vary (depending) on what is the most appropriate use.”
A Jet Zero strategy was set out by ministers back in July 2021, which set out plans for a net zero aviation sector. While it didn't discourage flying, it did set out to make travellers more aware of the emissions involved in flying.
Angela Rayner said: "“Families will be rightly angered by this show of extravagance by Rishi Sunak. Patients and staff are crying out for action from this Government in the midst of a crisis in our NHS while the Prime Minister jets from London to Leeds for a photo op.
"The Prime Minister must come clean about how much taxpayers’ money was wasted on this 36-minute plane journey for a three-hour visit at the height of a cost-of-living crisis.”
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