Sir Keir Starmer value the taxpayer nearly £700,000 jetting around the globe throughout his first three months in Downing Street, figures present.
The Prime Minister’s overseas journeys value £161,000 greater than Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss mixed over the equal interval since 2021.
Since coming into No 10 Sir Keir has earned the nickname “Never Here Keir” due to the period of time he spends overseas.
He was accused of hypocrisy over travelling to Germany by non-public jet, having beforehand attacked Rishi Sunak for personal jet use.
The flight to see the Euro 2024 remaining in Berlin was with a member of the family who was flying with him at public expense, in response to authorities information.
His journey to New York for the UN General Assembly was £236,020 – practically double what it value for Liz Truss to fly to the identical occasion in 2022.
When Boris Johnson went in 2021 as prime minister, it value £188,000 to fly by RAF aircraft, the Mail on Sunday revealed.
In complete, Sir Keir’s flights between July and September value £697,198.
They embody visits to Paris for the Olympics Opening Ceremony, Washington DC for a Nato summit and bilateral visits to Rome, Dublin and Berlin.
The figures present that he has travelled overseas on official enterprise extra in his first six months in energy than any of his rapid predecessors, and has spent extra time overseas than any PM has in the identical timeframe.
By comparability, Mr Johnson, Ms Truss and Mr Sunak’s flights in the identical months from 2021 to 2023 value £536,085.
Conservative MP Paul Holmes mentioned: “This is the height of hypocrisy from the Labour Party who banged on about flights in opposition.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s flights value greater than £900,000 from July to September, the newspaper discovered.
A authorities supply mentioned that is consistent with the journey prices of his predecessors Lord Cameron and James Cleverly.
A Downing Street supply mentioned: “Since taking office in July, the Prime Minister and his Cabinet have worked tirelessly to rebuild the diplomatic bridges burned by the Tories during 14 years of chaos and decline which have weakened Britain’s influence abroad and made us more vulnerable at home.”
A Foreign Office spokesman mentioned final evening: “The Foreign Secretary’s job requires him to travel abroad to pursue the UK’s interests.
“This Foreign Secretary remains committed to ensuring the most cost-effective way of travel, delivering best value for money for the taxpayer.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2011851/keir-starmer-racks-700000-taxpayer