Politics

Keir Starmer Slammed for Hypocrisy Over £102k Domestic Flight Spending

Published on May 19, 2025

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing accusations of “rank hypocrisy” after it was revealed that his government has spent £102,000 on domestic flights since taking office in July last year—a figure nearly three times higher than that of his predecessor Rishi Sunak during a similar period.

The revelation has triggered a political backlash, particularly given Labour’s past criticism of Sunak’s use of private jets while in office. At the time, Labour had condemned Sunak’s travel choices as environmentally irresponsible and fiscally wasteful, and had pledged to introduce strict regulations on ministerial travel if elected.

In contrast, government records now show that Starmer’s administration has spent significantly more on domestic flights. By comparison, Sunak’s bill for UK flights amounted to £36,900 over a 10-month stretch following his appointment as Prime Minister in October 2022.

One of Starmer’s trips, a February flight to Cornwall, lasted just 41 minutes—identical in duration to a controversial Blackpool flight taken by Sunak in January 2023, which Labour harshly criticised at the time. Then, Labour claimed the flight made a “mockery” of the Conservatives’ environmental policies.

Labour’s then-Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves also took aim at Sunak’s travel habits during the party’s annual conference in 2023, promising a crackdown on private jet use if Labour came to power. “We will impose strict regulations on ministers’ use of private aircraft to save millions of pounds for taxpayers,” she declared.

The tables have now turned, prompting sharp rebukes from opposition figures. Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Mike Wood said, “This is just more rank hypocrisy from Keir Starmer and his Labour Government.”

“Labour were all too happy to point the finger in opposition. But now in government, it is clear that this was just petty political point scoring and it’s one rule for them and another for everyone else,” Wood added.

Starmer has also been criticised by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch over perceived inconsistencies in his immigration stance. Following the release of Labour’s immigration strategy, Badenoch resurfaced past clips of Starmer speaking favourably about immigration and questioned his credibility.

In a pointed social media post, she asked, “Can you trust this man?”

The mounting scrutiny over both spending and policy positions poses a challenge to Starmer’s image of principled leadership, with critics arguing that Labour’s conduct in office is diverging sharply from its promises in opposition.

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