Politics

Eco campaigner Sadiq Khan branded hypocrite after racking up enough air miles to reach the MOON


ECO-WARRIOR Sadiq Khan was today branded a hypocrite after racking up 30,000 air miles despite warning of a “climate emergency”.

The London Mayor and his top team have flown the distance needed to reach the MOON since he took office, The Sun can reveal.

 Sadiq Khan has embarked on a number of far-flung foreign trips
Sadiq Khan has embarked on a number of far-flung foreign trips

Mr Khan’s globe-trotting has produced 180 tonnes of carbon dioxide – it would take a forest 34 years to suck that much CO2 from the atmosphere.

The Mayor is keen to flaunt his credentials as a green campaigner and last week met with the Extinction Rebellion protesters who recently brought London to a standstill.

Last year he declared a “climate emergency” and vowed to step in where the Government is failing to act.

Mr Khan insisted he and his aides are “doing everything in our power” to slow climate change.

But official records from City Hall reveal the Mayor has travelled nearly 32,000 miles on official business outside the UK since entering office in 2016.

His trips include jaunts to the US, India and Germany – dismissed by critics as self-promoting publicity stunts.

While the Mayor talks a good game when it comes to the environment, it is clear that his own actions fail to match his words

Susan Hall, London Tory

Mr Khan’s eight handpicked deputies have also embarked on lengthy foreign trips.

Between them the team have racked up a total of 280,000 miles of travel abroad, mostly by plane.

The journeys have produced so much carbon dioxide it would take a hectare of trees 34 years to remove the polluting gas from the Earth’s atmosphere.

The group’s carbon footprint is 30 times the amount emitted by a typical Brit over the course of a year.

Opponents slammed Mr Khan and accused him of not living up to his rhetoric on the environment.

Susan Hall, a Tory member of the London Assembly, told The Sun: “Sadiq Khan goes to great lengths to brandish his green credentials, including by cosying up to the Extinction Rebellion protestors and reassuring them that he is on their side.

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“While the Mayor talks a good game when it comes to the environment, it is clear that his own actions fail to match his words.

“The fact that him and his entourage have caused so much environmental damage leaves the Mayor open to the charge of rank hypocrisy.”

A spokesman for Mr Khan said: “This is more nonsense from London Assembly Tories who have opposed every single measure Sadiq has taken to improve air quality, including the introduction last month of the Ultra Low Emission Zone in central London to tackle air pollution.

“Trips abroad made by Sadiq and his team bang the drum for London – helping deliver prosperity, growth and jobs for the capital.

“All London mayors have promoted the city overseas, including the former Tory mayor Boris Johnson, who in one three-month period in 2015-16 made three long-haul overseas visits including twice to the United States.”

 The Mayor is keen to show off his environmental credentials

Rex Features

The Mayor is keen to show off his environmental credentials
 Extinction Rebellion brought London to a standstill last month

Getty Images – Getty

Extinction Rebellion brought London to a standstill last month
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