Jeremy Hunt under fire for high-carbon choice of transport for meeting

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Guardian
2 Oct 2023 09:22

The UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer has opted for the most environmentally damaging mode of transportation to attend a meeting, flying to Manchester from London.

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt (AFP)

Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, opted for a flight from London to Manchester instead of taking the train or a more eco-friendly mode of transportation, as per The Guardian in an exclusive report.

Air travel is the least environmentally friendly means of transportation, and Jeremy Hunt's trip would have released approximately 40 kilograms of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the report revealed.

These emissions from fossil fuels contribute to global warming and climate-related issues, like wildfires and floods, as per the report.

The Chancellor selected a 30-minute economy class flight (BA1372) from Heathrow Airport to Manchester rather than taking a two-hour train ride from London. His decision was reportedly influenced by an important Sunday morning meeting with the Japanese Ambassador and concerns about the ongoing rail strikes. Sunak also used a car to travel to Manchester, taking the train strikes into account.

It is worth noting that Hunt's decision to choose a high-carbon mode of transportation has faced criticism.

Chris Venables, deputy director of politics at environmental thinktank Green Alliance, said as quoted by The Guardian, “For the chancellor to chose to fly, one of the most polluting forms of travel, on a journey that takes a couple of hours by train will rightly raise eyebrows, especially following the significant steps backwards this government has taken on the green agenda in recent weeks."

“Those worrying policy U-turns have made it even more urgent that the chancellor responds as soon as possible to the global green investment race being led by the US and China, as the UK falls slowly behind,” Venables said.

Meanwhile, a Labour spokesperson said, “Jeremy Hunt appears to have picked up Rishi’s love of flying. They both know that Tory economic incompetence has put the rail network under such pressure that they can’t rely on a train to turn up on time."

“Luckily for them, multimillionaires can afford to fly, so, like so many of their mistakes, it’s for working people to live through and the super-rich to just read about.”

Paul Morozzo, a climate activist with Greenpeace UK, expressed skepticism about the environmental commitment of government ministers due to their high-carbon travel choices. He questioned whether the chancellor's flight was a public relations misstep or a reflection of party loyalty, especially as the government has made environmental U-turns a central theme of their election campaign, prioritizing party interests over environmental concerns.

Critics have previously raised concerns about the Prime Minister's frequent use of private jets and helicopters. While he argues that using private aviation for short distances is a more time-efficient choice than road or rail travel, many have highlighted the environmental and financial consequences of his preferred mode of transportation.

According to recent statistics from the Ministry of Justice, Rishi Sunak has employed RAF jets and helicopters for domestic flights more frequently than the last three UK prime ministers. The data indicate that he utilized these flights at an average rate of nearly one per week during the initial seven months of his term. Some of these journeys included helicopter trips to Dover and Southampton, despite the availability of shorter rail alternatives.