Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s private jet globe-trotting racked up a bill of more than £1million in just three months, newly released figures have revealed.
The Foreign Secretary's lavish air travel bill reached £1,230,611.39 from October to December 2024.
The sky-high figure represents a substantial 34.3 per cent increase compared to the previous three-month period.
Lammy came under fire after it was previously revealed that the Foreign Secretary already spent £916,177 on flights in the first three months after the election.
David Lammy during a private jet trip
PA
For every day during his most recent three-month jet-setting period, the Foreign Secretary spent £14,650 on air travel.
The majority of Lammy's travel expenses were attributed to his use of the largest jet in the ministerial fleet.
Private flights on an Airbus A321-251NX(LR) accounted for £1,088,549.06 of the total bill.
The remaining portion of the £1.23million spending spree was spent on other forms of air travel.
These figures represent only Lammy's personal travel costs during the three-month period, with the Foreign Office’s overall ministerial overseas travel spending reached £1,368,679.56 during this period.
Liz Truss opted to use a private jet during a visit to Australia
PA
Labour faced accusations of hypocrisy after Lammy used a private jet to travel to India for trade talks following the 2024 General Election.
Slamming Tory Cabinet Ministers for similar globe-trotting trips, Angela Rayner said: “Liz Truss shows the public exactly quite how little respect this Conservative Government has for taxpayers’ money with her ridiculous waste of half a million pounds on a private jet trip. This Government is brazen in its disregard for upholding decency.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves also vowed to crack down on private jet usage after Sir Keir Starmer entered No10.
“I will treat taxpayers’ money with the same respect that people treat their own money,” Reeves said.
Starmer’s Government is also looking to crackdown on wasteful Whitehall spending after it was revealed that more than £675million was spent on cards held by central departments and core agencies last year.
Statue of Robert Clive outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office also known as the Foreign Office
GETTY
The Foreign Office has been accused of spending £2,400 at Cumbria Crystal, where a set of four Grasmere wine glasses costs £500.
Another £1,400 was spent at the London department store Fortnum and Mason’s, £600 on Chapel Down sparkling wine and £741 on bespoke shoes from Carreducker.
In total, Lammy’s department spent £521,525 on “restaurants and bars” in the first four months of the Labour Government.
The Foreign Office also paid £623 for tickets to the South By South West music and tech festival in Sydney.
Foreign Secretary David LammyPAResponding to Lammy’s private jet spending, a Foreign Office spokesman said: “At a time of significant global upheaval, it is vital that the Foreign Secretary can travel abroad – often at very short notice – to defend and champion the UK’s interests.
“Ministerial travel plans are decided with consideration of the best use of a Minister’s time and overhead costs, in line with established practice by successive governments.
“These costs are routinely published for transparency and are consistent with his predecessors in the previous government.
“This Foreign Secretary remains committed to ensuring the most cost-effective way of travel, delivering best value for money for the taxpayer.”
