Sir Keir Starmer's foreign trips cost taxpayers almost £700,000 in first three months as PM

Analysis reveals higher spending and more time abroad compared to predecessors

In the first three months of Sir Keir Starmer's tenure as Prime Minister, his foreign plane trips reportedly racked up a bill of nearly £700,000, according to Government records. This figure is £161,000 more than the combined expenses of his predecessors Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss during their equivalent initial periods in office. Additionally, Starmer has spent more time abroad in his first six months than any of the aforementioned leaders did during their early months in office.

'Never Here Keir': Criticism mounts over lack of clarity on trip benefits

The scrutiny over the Labour leader's overseas travels has intensified, with his trips earning him the moniker "Never Here Keir." Luke Tryl, from polling company More In Common, noted that Starmer "hasn't done a good job of explaining why his trips benefit people at home." Among the trips highlighted in the analysis is a visit to New York that reportedly cost £236,020, along with visits to Rome, Dublin, Berlin, Paris, and Washington. Starmer was also reportedly accompanied on a flight to Berlin to attend the Euro 2024 final.

Comparative spending: Foreign Secretary David Lammy's flights exceed £900,000

In a comparison with his counterparts, Foreign Secretary David Lammy's flights from July to September reportedly cost over £900,000, aligning with the spending patterns of his predecessors. The analysis sheds light on the significant expenditure on official foreign travel by top government officials, prompting questions about the necessity and benefits of such trips.