Helicopter enthusiast Rishi Sunak was flown from London to Kent for a briefing today - despite it being just over an hour away by train.
The PM, who has been criticised over his repeated use of choppers, flew from the capital to Dover, where he will desperately try and convince critics his small boats strategy is working.
An RAF Agusta Westland A109 - believed to have been transporting Mr Sunak took off from Battersea Helicopter just after 8am.
Had he caught the 8.04am train from London St Pancras, he would have arrived at the coastal town at 9.12am.
Last week The Mirror reported that he had racked up a £38,500 bill in April by flying to Tory events in Wales and Scotland.
He has previously been flown to engagements in Southampton - even though it would only have taken an hour by train.
Mr Sunak is due to give a speech on efforts to stop small boats crossing the Channel amid growing anger from his own party.
A No10 spokesperson said: "As always, travel plans will vary and are always decided with consideration to the best use of the Prime Ministers time and in interests of the taxpayer."
The PM flew into Kent to update on the progress in the six months since he introduced the Illegal Migration Bill under his plans to "stop the boats".
So far more than 7,600 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel this year, with the Government warning the number could hit 56,000 by the end of December.
Home Office insiders reportedly fear that cruel measures introduced by Home Secretary Suella Braverman will be unworkable if the annual figure is above 10,000.
It comes after the jet-setting PM racked up a bill of over £30,000 flying between Tory party events in Wales and Scotland.
The latest register of member's interest shows Mr Sunak and his eight-strong entourage were flown to the Conservative conferences by private plane on April 28.
The luxury air travel was funded by Tory donor Akhil Triapathi, according to Mr Sunak's declaration in the register.
* Follow Mirror Politics on Snapchat, Tiktok, Twitter and Facebook
