Fury as Labour's Net Zero civil servants rack up millions in air miles

by · Mail Online

Civil servants behind the crusade to reach Net Zero have flown more than three million miles this year, it has emerged.

Staff in Ed Miliband’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have been accused of hypocrisy after details of their globetrotting were revealed.

Officials flew 3,211,644 air miles between January and September this year on 1,130 flights, Parliament was told.

Transparency data published before Labour took power reveal some of the destinations and costs. Between January and March, DESNZ bosses took 19 flights costing taxpayers £24,049.

They took long-haul flights to the US, Brazil and Azerbaijan – but also internal flights from London to Glasgow and Edinburgh. 

The most expensive flights were to Japan and South Korea on a trip by Permanent Secretary Jeremy Pocklington that cost £8,792.

Civil servants working on in Labour's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have been accused of hypocrisy after it emerged they had been raking up millions in air miles (Pictured: Sir Kris Starmer, David Lammy and Ed Miliband at COP29)
Separate figures showed that Energy Secretary Mr Miliband (pictured) has racked up about 23,000 air miles in the fight to stop global warming 
Officials flew 3,211,644 air miles between January and September this year on 1,130 flights (Pictured: Ed Miliband and Sir Keir Starmer attending the World Action Summit in December 2023)
Activists holding banners which say 'defund genocide', protesting against war and militarisation during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan
Protesters held up signs which read: 'Get rid of fossil fuel addiction' and 'Fossil fuel phase-out for peace!' at Cop 29 in Baku 

It comes after separate figures showed that Mr Miliband has racked up about 23,000 air miles in the fight to stop global warming.

Reform MP Rupert Lowe, who obtained the air miles figures in a written question, told the Mail last night: ‘Labour hypocrisy strikes again. 

We’re told to cut down on flying, eating meat or whatever else, yet Ed Miliband is allowed to rack up the air miles.

‘They want the rest of us to permanently change our lives while they carry on like usual. Only Reform will scrap bogus Net Zero targets and make life cheaper for British people.’

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Spokesperson said: ‘We are not against flying – it is in Britain’s national self-interest to represent the country at key international summits, tackling climate change and attracting investment for jobs and growth.

‘Ministers fly commercially where appropriate or feasible, and where it is not, we carbon offset to minimise the overall impact.