David Lammy’s love of the high life is really taking off. Newly released government figures show Lammy burned through a staggering £1,360,780 on flights between January and March. That’s a 10% increase on the prior three months, and a 48% increase on his first three months in office…
Of the total, a jaw-dropping £1,315,766 went on private jets. That’s £15,120 a day Lammy spent on flights in the first three months of the year…
Lammy flew to 17 different countries – or more than one new country every five days. FCDO ministers in that period spent a total of £1,452,732 on overseas travel. All that international schmoozing earned Lammy a whopping 40 minutes notice of the US strike on Iran..
UPDATE: An FCDO spokesperson pleaded in Lammy’s defence:
“During this quarter, the Foreign Secretary’s travel included the Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, Ukraine to demonstrate the UK’s unshakeable support in the face of Putin’s illegal war and to the United States to help secure the first deal of any country with the Trump administration. This is vital work for securing the UK’s security and prosperity.
The Foreign Secretary’s travel costs are comparable to his predecessors. Where practical and security considerations allow, Ministers use commercial flights, but our priority must always be pursuing the UK national interest with pace.”
Overheard by a co-conspirator in Parliament, minister Chris Bryant speaking to Tory MP Paul Holmes:
“You must be happy now that all the bastards are leaving.”