Western Morning News (Saturday)
Sharma accused over his air miles
POLITICAL leaders have accused Cop26 president Alok Sharma of “hypocrisy” after it emerged he had flown to at least 30 countries this year in the run-up to the climate summit.
Mr Sharma also attracted criticism for failing to self-isolate after visits to red-list countries, most recently Bolivia and Brazil, by relying on rules exempting ministers from quarantine.
The former Secretary of State for Business remains in Brazil where he is meeting with state and business leaders in a bid to get them to commit to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Liberal Democrat spokeswoman, Sarah Olney, accused him of treating flexible rules for Crown servants as a “get-out-of-jail-free” card.
The MP for Richmond Park said: “As usual with this Government, it’s one rule for them and another for everybody else.
“While Alok Sharma flies to redlist countries with abandon, hardworking families can hardly see loved ones or plan holidays as the Government changes travel rules on the hoof. People are sick of the Government giving themselves get-out-of-jail-free passes while the rest of us stick to the rules.”
Green Party peer, Baroness Jones, said: “’I do understand it’s very good to meet people in person, but this is excessive.
“When you’re in charge of Cop26, to take this many flights is hypocritical.”
Shadow justice secretary, David Lammy, described the volume of Mr Sharma’s travel as “hugely worrying”.
Speaking to Sky News, he said: “Of course, some international travel is required, but this amount of international travel when you’re climate change minister feels to me bizarre, and feels to not be setting the example.”
But the UK’s most powerful green organisations declined to comment publicly on Mr Sharma’s air miles. A source told the PA news agency that they were reluctant to condemn the Cop26 president because he faced an enormous battle to make a success of the talks and sometimes face-toface talks were necessary.
A UK Government spokesman said: “Helping the world tackle the climate emergency is an international priority for the Government. Virtual meetings play a large part; however, face-to-face meetings are key to success in the climate negotiations the UK is leading as hosts of Cop26 and are crucial to understanding first-hand the opportunities and challenges other countries are facing in the fight against climate change.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman also robustly defended Mr Sharma, pointing out he had secured ambitious carbon reduction pledges from some of the world’s biggest emitters during his visits.
He added: “Ministers conducting essential travel such as this are exempted from quarantine, as set out in the rules.”
Mr Sharma and his delegation were frequently tested for Covid19, it is understood, while social distancing guidelines and the wearing of masks were enforced.