RISHI Sunak has used RAF jets and helicopters more frequently than the UK’s previous three Prime Ministers, new data has shown.
Data released by the Ministry of Defence on Friday showed that the Prime Minister took almost one flight a week during his first seven months in office.
In addition to the cost of domestic flights to the taxpayer, Sunak has also accepted £70,000 worth of private air travel to Conservative Party events this year.
Sunak has previously said air travel was the "most effective use of my time".
The number of flights come after Nicola Sturgeon defended the use of public money on her airport upgrades by saying spending on it was “probably less” than one flight by Sunak in a private jet.
The UK prime minister and other ministers can be transported domestically by two jets and a helicopter, operated by the RAF division known as 32 squadron.
In total, Sunak boarded 23 domestic flights on these aircrafts in 187 days, which works out as one flight every eight days.
The information revealed through a freedom of information request lodged by the BBC who said: “Two caveats to bear in mind are the brevity of Ms Truss's time in Downing Street, and the limitations on Mr Johnson's travel during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The recent Prime Ministers boarded:
- One flight every 13 days - Theresa May
- One flight every 20 days - Boris Johnson
- One flight every 12 days - Liz Truss
The SNP criticised the Prime Minister for being "completely out-of-touch" and "grossly hypocritical" after pledging to curb carbon emissions.
Social Justice spokesperson for the SNP, David Linden MP said: “Across Scotland, people have been plunged into poverty and hardship by the Westminster cost of living crisis, all the while jet-set Rishi Sunak is touring the skies in private planes and sending the bill to taxpayers.
“In the midst of a global climate emergency, the carbon footprint of the Westminster government is reaching new highs as the Prime Minister makes a record number of private jet and helicopter trips – that’s a real kick in the teeth for folk struggling to simply make ends meet.
“While the Prime Minister flies high, people across Scotland wonder how they are going to afford their next weekly food shop or electricity bill.
“To make matters even worse, Sunak has also accepted at least £70,000, that we know of, on private air travel to Tory party events.
“Sunak is a multi-millionaire who is completely out of touch with the needs of people in Scotland. We need to escape the damage of Westminster and build our own path where we can use the full powers of independence to take the action that’s needed to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and the climate emergency.”
The party's deputy leader, Angela Rayner, has suggested Sunak had breached the ministerial code, which states he is supposed to use scheduled flights, unless "it is essential to travel by air".
