Not unexpected during an election campaign but Sunak's next mode of transport from Cornwall was a chartered helicopter. This hasn't gone down well in some quarters.
Not surprising, helicopters are expensive and burn a lot of fuel. Useful for medical and other emergencies but routine use should be discouraged. Climate emergency ?
A politician's choice of transport is never going to please everybody. Even the humble bicycle has its critics, given the huge outlay of energy in mining the metal and forging the steel, the colonial history of rubber for tyres, and the extinction-level threat to us all posed by a can of 3 in 1. A helicopter is a pragmatic tool in the life of a senior politician or royal, giving greater security than a motorcade and saving precious time. David Cameron began his premiership walking to Parliament, but gave in when he realised how many police had to be deployed compared to when he went by bulletproof ministerial car. Whatever one may think of the individual, the cost purely in financial terms of a senior minister being attacked far outweighs that of a chartered chopper. So what were the alternatives?
Car - would have to be followed by at least two others for advisors, a police escort, plus coaches for the press pack. Several hours in transit, during which he can't be anywhere else. Effectively a full day out, which for a minister during an election campaign is a no-no.
Train - Mr Sunak cleverly sneaked in the journey down without anyone twigging, thus managing a sleep. He could hardly catch the delayed 1750 back to Paddington once the cat was out of the bag, though. He would need close protection, aides, advisors etc with him, and probably a
BTP▸ presence on every platform along the route. There would be a possibility of a conversation such as "I'm sure we can reach a peace deal, Mr Biden/Netanyahu/Putin, but I'm about to enter Whiteball tunnel."
Don't go to Cornwall - might as well write the headlines yourself - "PM SNUBS COUNTY AGAIN - Local man says he's outraged (we think that's what he said)". Forget it.
Private plane - unless it's Grant Shapps and his US-registered Saratoga which could manage Lands End airport, it would have to be from Newquay, and presumably to
RAF▸ Northolt or London City. That adds additional steps, including through London traffic, which would lose the time gained by the higher speed of a fixed wing craft. A business jet would be more expensive than a helicopter. Which leaves:
Helicopter - expensive, noisy, but point to point and out of reach of all but the most determined miscreant. From the cost, deduct three single 1st-class fares from Penzance to Paddington at £224.40 each, and it isn't too bad after all.
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