Climate crisis: Tory minister tells public to keep flying and denies sacrifices needed to save planet

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The health secretary says the public can carry on flying as often as before despite the climate emergency, rejecting the idea of “sacrifices” to save the planet. But Mr Hancock said ministers were right to step in to save regional flights, telling BBC Radio 5 Live: “Being able to connect different parts of the country is important.” He claimed: “Flying has already decarbonised and can decarbonise more,” and – when it was suggested “sacrifices” will be necessary to address the climate crisis – replied: “No”. “Whichever it is, his comments fly in the face of the Conservative manifesto commitment to tackling the climate emergency.” And Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat climate emergency spokesperson, said: “This Tory government is happy to promote flying despite the climate emergency and the damage air pollution can do to our planet? “In the year the UK is hosting the COP26 climate change conference, the country needs a government that takes the climate emergency seriously.” The comments come after Andrea Leadsom, the business secretary, was criticised for claiming using recycled cooking oil to fuel aeroplanes can help solve the climate emergency.