Rishi Sunak takes helicopter for trip that is just over an hour by train

Rishi Sunak travelled to Southampton using a taxpayer-funded helicopter, Downing Street has admitted, despite the journey taking just over an hour on the train.

The prime minister was visiting the city to attend a GP surgery and pharmacy to promote the government's latestAccording to rail schedules, the journey from London Waterloo station to Southampton Central station takes one hour and 14 minutes, meaning that had the prime minister caught the 8.35am train, he would have arrived in Southampton at 9.50am.

According to the Mirror, a helicopter left RAF Northolt at around 8.53am this morning, before landing at Wellington Barracks in Westminster where it picked up Mr Sunak. He landed at Southampton Airport at around 9.47am.The prime minister's official spokesperson defended the use of the helicopter on the grounds that it helped to"make the best use of his time".

Challenged on the fact that it would have taken only around 90 minutes to travel from Westminster to Southampton by train this morning, the spokesperson said:"The way he gets to different events will vary as there's lots of pressure on his time."The spokesman added that there was"always a balance between the interests of the taxpayer and the best use of his time".

The revelation follows a bruising set of local election results for Mr Sunak, in which the Conservative Party

United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Jill Biden joins Downing Street Big Lunch, as thousands host street parties across the countryThe First Lady was greeted by Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty, with community leaders and Ukrainian refugees joining the Downing Street Big Lunch as special guests
Source: i newspaper - 🏆 8. / 89 Read more »

Harness Boris Johnson's campaigning power or risk being ousted, Tory MPs warn Rishi SunakThe Prime Minister has come under renewed pressure following the bruising local election results
Source: i newspaper - 🏆 8. / 89 Read more »

Rishi Sunak 'responsible' for local election 'meltdown', ex-Tory MEP insists'Rishi Sunak has to take the blame for this... he brought down Boris, it was a sort of Tory Macbeth plot.' The local elections were 'a meltdown' and the PM has to take 'responsibility', Conservative Democratic Organisation Chairman says.
Source: LBC - 🏆 17. / 74 Read more »

Rishi Sunak faces Tory dissent over policy on China and UK housing\n\t\t\tKeep abreast of significant corporate, financial and political developments around the world.\n\t\t\tStay informed and spot emerging risks and opportunities with independent global reporting, expert\n\t\t\tcommentary and analysis you can trust.\n\t\t
Source: FT - 🏆 113. / 51 Read more »

Rishi Sunak's political survival comes down to three crucial questionsIs this Government delivering anything that voters fear losing? wallaceme for ipaperviews
Source: i newspaper - 🏆 8. / 89 Read more »

Rishi Sunak pledges to cut waiting times to see a GP in England\n\t\t\tKeep abreast of significant corporate, financial and political developments around the world.\n\t\t\tStay informed and spot emerging risks and opportunities with independent global reporting, expert\n\t\t\tcommentary and analysis you can trust.\n\t\t
Source: FT - 🏆 113. / 51 Read more »