Busy Rishi Sunak defends flights around the UK in BBC row saying they are ‘the most efficient use of my time’ and ‘banning everything’ will not solve climate change as he heads to Scotland by air for green announcement
Rishi Sunak angrily defended his use of RAF jets and private helicopters to fly around the country today.
The Prime Minister was riled by a BBC interview ahead of a trip to Scotland to launch an expansion of oil and gas exploration, and green schemes designed to reduce industrial emissions.
Mr Sunak admitted on BBC Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland that he would be flying to Aberdeenshire for a visit to mark the announcement, saying that as a busy national leader it was the best use of his time.
A train journey from London King’s Cross to Aberdeen takes around seven hours.
But when the issue was raised by presenter Martin Geissler Mr Sunak became noticeably irritated, replying: ‘I’ll be flying as I normally would and that’s the most efficient use of my time…
The Prime Minister was riled by a BBC interview ahead of a trip to Scotland to launch an expansion of oil and gas exploration, and green schemes designed to reduce industrial emissions.
The PM has faced criticisim of his use of air travel within the UK, although the criticism has mainly been aimed at far shorter journeys like this one from London to Southampton in May.
Rishi Sunak, who has previously raised eyebrows with his use of aircraft for short journeys, made the trip from London to the South Coast to visit a pharmacy
‘Every prime minister before me has also used planes to travel around the United Kingdom because it’s an efficient use of time for the person running the country so we can keep focusing on delivery for people.’
He added: ‘Actually that question brings to light a great debate here, if you or others think that the answer to climate change is getting people to ban everything that they are doing, to stop people going on holiday, I mean, I think that’s the absolutely the wrong approach.’
The PM has faced criticism of his use of air travel within the UK, although the criticism has mainly been aimed at far shorter journeys.
In May he flew 70 miles from London to Southampton instead of driving or using the train.
He was previously accused of behaving like an ‘A-list celebrity’ after he used an RAF jet to fly 250 miles to northern England to promote ‘levelling up’ funding in January.
That was the third time he had used an RAF aircraft in 10 days for trips within Britain.
In March, it was revealed the PM had spent more than £500,000 of taxpayers’ cash on private jets to take him on foreign trips totalling eight days.
Mr Sunak declared war on Just Stop Oil today as he vowed to ramp up exploitation of North Sea oil and gas reserves.
The Prime Minister vowed to approve hundreds of new licences to drill for fossil fuels off the UK coast as he seeks to hit Labour over the cost of living.
Sir Keir Starmer has suggested Labour would ban all new applications to drill in the North Sea if it wins the4 next election – but would create jobs through a massive push towards green technology and jobs.
He has been mired in a row over donations received from Dale Vince, the green power tycoon who is also a backer of Just Stop Oil.
The Prime Minister told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland that new licences were vital to avoid the UK being beholden to ‘dictators’ like Vladimir Putin through energy imports.
However, the PM, who will fly to Aberdeenshire from London this morning, refused to also ease the planned 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars.
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