Rishi Sunak criticised for using RAF jet to travel to Blackpool instead of taking the train

Rishi Sunak has faced criticism for using a jet to travel to Blackpool rather than using the train.

The Prime Minister used an RAF jet from Northolt to Blackpool as he made a number of visits across northern England to announce new levelling up funding.

Mr Sunak was in Lancashire to discuss the allocation of £2 billion in levelling-up funding.

Labour have accused Mr Sunak of “jetting around the country on taxpayers’ money like an A-list celeb” and making a “mockery” of his environmental strategy after the 41-minute flight on Thursday.

However, Mr Sunak has defended his use of a jet to fly to Lancashire.

Speaking at an event in Morecambe, he said: “I travel around so I can do lots of things in one day, I’m not travelling around just for my own enjoyment – although this is very enjoyable, of course.

“I’m travelling around so I can talk to people in Accrington this morning, then I’ve talked to you, then I’m going to get over to Hartlepool because I’m working on all of your behalves.

“Trust me, I’m working as hard as I can to deliver for you and I travel to make myself as effective as possible.”

A train journey from London Euston to Blackpool takes less than three hours, with a single fare coming in at £73.40, or £189.80 to travel during peak hours. First class could cost £257.

Disruption and delays hit earlier services on Thursday.

Tory MP Mark Jenkinson has also defended Mr Sunak’s jet use, saying “he’s the Prime Minister, multiple train changes with a security detail and unreliable” Avanti West Coast trains “would be madness”.

Mr Sunak made the trip on a Dassault Falcon 900LX, with the French manufacturer having reportedly been favoured by stars including Taylor Swift.

Last week, Downing Street defended Mr Sunak flying to Leeds because there is a “great deal of pressure” on his schedule.

He went on to take an RAF plane to Scotland as he announced two new “green” freeports.

Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “Rishi Sunak has learnt nothing from the past few weeks as he continues to jet about the country on taxpayers’ money.

“It is simply ridiculous that he can’t get a train like the rest of the British public do.

“Yet again, this Prime Minister is completely out of touch with the rest of society.”

Downing Street declined to comment while the Prime Minister is travelling, citing security reasons.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: “Rishi Sunak’s expensive private jet habit is costing the environment and the taxpayer dear.

“Instead of catching the train like the rest of us, he’s swanning around like a washed-up A-lister courtesy of the public, making a mockery of his own Government’s ‘zero-jet’ strategy.”

John Travolta and Ms Swift are among the stars who have reportedly had Dassault jets in their collections.

Ministers have defended London and the South East getting the largest share of the funding, receiving £362 million compared to the North West’s £354 million, £109 million for the North East and £177 million for Scotland.

Critics have also said Tory areas are being favoured with Catterick Garrison in the Prime Minister’s wealthy North Yorkshire seat receiving £19 million to regenerate the high street.

Levelling-Up Secretary Michael Gove told Times Radio: “It’s simply untrue that the levelling up fund is concentrated disproportionately on London and the South East.”

He argued that London and the South East together constitute a quarter of the country’s population and “the biggest winners are those in the North West” compared to population size.