THE Labour Government has been accused of “jaw-dropping” hypocrisy after ministers used a private jet, despite the party’s commitments to crack down on their use.
Conservative former minister Andrew Murrison claimed ministers had been “hopping on and off” an Airbus A321 and asked if this was compatible with the Government’s aim of restoring trust in politicians.
Earlier this week, Foreign Secretary David Lammy used the Airbus to travel to New Delhi as he announced a new UK-India scheme aimed at strengthening co-operation on artificial intelligence.
Labour previously criticised Tory ministers for using the private jet, notably in January 2022 when the then-foreign secretary Liz Truss used it to travel to Australia.
READ MORE: Labour rebel Zarah Sultana says party's duty of care is 'severely lacking'
At the time, Angela Rayner (below) – now the Deputy Prime Minister – said the decision to fly privately showed the public “exactly quite how little respect this Conservative government has for taxpayers’ money”.
Then-prime minister Rishi Sunak was described as “out of touch” by Labour after he used private planes and helicopters to travel around the UK during the General Election campaign.
In October 2023, Rachel Reeves – now the Chancellor – promised a “crackdown on Tory ministers’ private jet habit” if Labour came to power.
During business questions on Thursday, Murrison (South West Wiltshire) said: “Can we have a debate on trust in politics and politicians?
“Newly minted ministers are already hopping on and off the Airbus A321 airplane, the same plane that was condemned in 2022 by the then-opposition as obscene, brazen and disgusting.
“In that debate will the Government be able to explain how that jaw-dropping show of double standards and hypocrisy is compatible with restoring trust?”
Responding, Commons Leader Lucy Powell (above) said the Prime Minister’s travel arrangements are a “security matter”.
Powell said: “I’m glad he raises that point because we’re actually having a debate this afternoon on resorting trust in politicians and politics, as this Government brings forward its manifesto commitment to take action on the sleaze and scandal and cronyism we saw in the last Parliament.
“We want to turn the page on that decisively, as we are beginning to do today.
“He will know that the travel arrangements of the Prime Minister are security matters, and I’m sure he’ll respect that.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel