What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The Tory Health Secretary has declared Brits should carry on taking short-haul internal flights despite the climate crisis.

Matt Hancock said people shouldn't cut down on domestic air travel - because it's quicker than taking the train.

It comes despite Chancellor Sajid Javid saying Tory plans for government were "the most green manifesto any party has ever published".

Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said: "Either Matt Hancock thinks airplanes run on fairy dust, or he does know they're a major source of planet-heating emissions but simply doesn't care.

"Whichever it is, his comments fly in the face of the Conservative manifesto commitment to tackling the climate emergency."

Last month Boris Johnson claimed a "far-reaching" environment programme would make this nation "the cleanest, greenest on Earth".

Yet asked if, given the "climate catastrophe", we should be flying less, Mr Hancock told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Nope. I think connectivity around the country is incredibly important.

(Image: Peter Summers)

“Take the flights to the Scilly Isles for instance, it’s very hard and takes a long time to get to the Scilly Isles if you’re not in an aeroplane.”

He said he had flown from London to Aberdeen, and asked if he'd do it again he replied: “Yes of course, if that’s necessary."

Asked what "necessary" meant he said: “Well if I needed to get to Aberdeen and I didn’t have time to get the train.”

A direct train from London to Aberdeen takes seven hours. Asked if Brits shouldn't be making sacrifices on issues like that to help the environment he said: "No.

(Image: REUTERS)

"We should use technology to reduce carbon emissions - for instance electric planes are a potential in the not too distant future.

“I am told that electric planes are on the horizon, if that’s not pushing the metaphor too far.”

He added: “Flying has already decarbonised and can decarbonise more.”

Mr Hancock's comments prompted fury from environmental campaigners - who are already up in arms about the government's bailout of Virgin-owned airline Flybe.

(Image: PA)

Green MP Caroline Lucas said: "Tory government promises about making Britain the “greenest, cleanest” country on Earth are already unravelling.

"Taking a short-haul flight from, say, London to Exeter produces six times the carbon emissions that the train journey would.

"How does Matt Hancock imagine his government will meet its own climate targets if flying is promoted as the best way to travel between different cities?

"He needs to take a long walk and look at the hard facts of the climate emergency."

Greenpeace's Mr Sauven said Mr Hancock was right about one thing: "Regional connectivity is crucial, and that's why ministers should invest a lot more in clean transport infrastructure while making sure millions of people are not clobbered by rail fare hikes every year."

The Tory manifesto pledged for the UK to reach net zero climate emissions by 2050, but campaigners said that was not soon enough.

Boris Johnson also sparked outrage during the election campaign by flying just 90 miles in a gas-guzzling 72-seat plane instead of taking his own election battle bus.

The Prime Minister was condemned after taking aides and journalists on the half-hour flight from Doncaster Sheffield Airport to Teesside Airport - despite the same journey taking around an hour and 43 minutes on the road.