UK PM Rishi Sunak spent over £500,000 on private jets for foreign trips: Report

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak spent more than £500,000 of taxpayers’ money on private jets in just a few weeks, The Mirror reported citing official figures. The private jets racked up a bill of £512,321 in travel costs for trips that Rishi Sunak made to Egypt, Bali, Latvia and Estonia last year.

The report said that government figures showed plane hiring cost £107,966 while Rishi Sunak’s personal costs were £3,483, including visas, accommodation, travel and meals. His five-day trip to the G20 summit in Bali cost £341,857 for hiring the jet and £11,204 on personal costs, the report said.

While his trip to Latvia and Estonia in December for a Joint Expeditionary Force meeting incurred travel costs of £62,498, with personal costs of £2,500.

Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat climate spokesman, said, “This is a shocking waste of taxpayers’ money at a time when people are struggling to pay their bills. Yet again, this Conservative Government is completely out of touch.”

“The Government can pretend to care about a greener future with their so-called ‘Green Day’, but the reality is they are trashing their own promises,” Wera Hobhouse added.

Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said, “The role of the Prime Minister includes holding vital meetings with world leaders during bilateral visits and summits to discuss issues of international importance – including security, defence and trade.”