Reeves in ‘hypocrisy’ storm over business-class flight to New York
Tory MPS say ‘it’s a case of do as I say, not as I do’ as Labour frontbencher takes £4,000 BA flight
RACHEL REEVES has been accused of hypocrisy after she flew business class to have dinner at a New York members’ club, just a week after describing Rishi Sunak as “out of touch”.
The shadow chancellor tweeted a photograph of her BA ticket on Sunday, as she set off on a trip to New York and Washington, where she is meeting a key adviser to Joe Biden over a dinner at the Harvard Club.
But social media users noticed that her seat number was visible on the ticket, revealing she was in seat 3K, which is in BA’S Club World business class suite, costing about £4,000. It comes weeks after Labour criticised government ministers for living a “fivestar luxury lifestyle” of international trips and hotel stays.
In a trip to “restore economic dignity”, Ms Reeves is reportedly attending the Harvard Club for dinner, and holding talks with John Anzalone, who helped Mr Biden win the US election.
Tory MPS have now accused the Labour frontbencher of trying to “pull the wool over people’s eyes”. Mark Jen- kinson, the Conservative MP for Workington, told said: “Imagine the uproar from the Labour Party, not only if a party donor had paid to upgrade a minister’s travel to business class, but if said minister had then tried to pull the wool over people’s eyes.
“As always for Labour, it’s one rule for them and one for everybody else.”
Brendan Clarke-smith, the Tory MP for Bassetlaw, accused Labour of “hypocrisy”, days after Left-wing activists attacked him on social media for suggesting that shoppers buy supermarket-brand baked beans if Heinz versions were rising in price too sharply.
He said: “Start spreading the news. When it comes to luxury travel, with Labour they still expect to be top of the list – it’s a case of do as I say, not as I do.”
British Airways’ business class cabin is branded as a “luxury” experience, including a private lounge at the airport, a spacious seat and bed, as well as a “delicious” three-course meal.
The May menu for Club World includes premium champagne, braised Welsh leg of lamb with potato au gratin and minted peas, Loch Fyne smoked salmon with truffled remoulade, apricot soufflé with vanilla custard and a specialist cheeseboard served with fig chutney.
Labour refused to say who funded Ms Reeves’s New York trip.”