Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of hypocrisy after it emerged that he accepted a donation from JCB tycoon Lord Bamford, whose private jet was used by Boris Johnson to travel 1,200 miles in two weeks, emitting 21 tonnes of CO2. The Labour leader had previously criticised the Prime Minister for using the billionaire's aircraft while lecturing on climate change.
The flights, which took place in the fortnight leading up to May's local elections, were declared as donations in kind to the Conservative Party, with estimated costs of £40,254.71. If Johnson had travelled by train, the CO2 emissions would have been a fraction of the amount produced by the Gulfstream G650 jet.
Greenpeace's chief scientist Dr Doug Parr said: 'Prime Ministerial actions have consequences far beyond those of any Hollywood star or royal, and Prime Ministerial hypocrisy is deeply corrosive of public trust.' The revelations come as Johnson prepares to welcome global leaders to Glasgow for the Cop26 climate summit.
A Conservative Party spokesperson said it is important for party leaders to travel across the country within time constraints. The flights are also likely to embarrass Johnson's wife Carrie, a keen environmentalist, who was not on board.
