Should private jets be banned? Join The Independent Debate as Rishi Sunak and David Cameron spark controversy

Mr Sunak has been accused of climate hypocrisy and ‘setting an awful example’ after using separate jets for him and Lord Cameron to attend Cop28 in Dubai

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (right) and the Foreign Secretary, Lord David Cameron (Frank Augstein/PA) (PA Wire)

Climate campaigners are outraged after it emerged prime minister Rishi Sunak, King Charles, and foreign secretary David Cameron all took separate private jets to the Cop28 conference in Dubai.

No 10 defended the decision to have Mr Sunak and Lord Cameron travel separately – as it was confirmed junior ministers and officials would fly out on commercial flights rather than travel with the PM’s entourage.

But opposition parties and activists accused Mr Sunak of climate hypocrisy – criticising the use of separate jets as “setting an awful example” and being a “waste of taxpayers’ cash”.

Todd Smith, an Extinction Rebellion (XR) spokesperson, said Mr Sunak and Lord Cameron were “setting an awful example” and “protecting the interests of their rich mates”.

The activist said three in four Britons would not need to change their flying habits to achieve net zero. “It is only a small minority of private jet users, frequent flyers and first-class travellers that are ruining it for the rest of us.”

We want to know if you think private jets should be totally banned in an effort to reach net zero. Do you think politicians should use commercial flights, or is there a place for private air travel amid the climate crisis?

Do the actions of Mr Sunak, Lord Cameron and King Charles undermine the purpose of Cop28? And would you change your flying habits to ease the impact on the climate?

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