Mhairi Black has slammed Rishi Sunak for using a "luxury helicopter" to fly to Dover despite the journey being just over an hour on the train.
The SNP Deputy Westminster leader slammed the Prime Minister for not focusing on people's priorities during the cost-of-living crisis while spending money on helicopter trips.
Sunak took an RAF helicopter from London to Dover on Monday for a speech on small boat crossings. He could have taken a high-speed train from St Pancras station, which would have taken slightly longer than an hour.
The deputy leaders took over at PMQs on Wednesday afternoon as Sunak is in the USA meeting President Joe Biden. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden was filling in for him, while Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner took over from Keir Starmer.
Black said: “This Government plans to cut taxes for the richest, spend £6 billion in imprisoning people fleeing war and persecution, and has lost £21 billion to Government fraud throughout this pandemic.
“Is the view from the Prime Minister’s luxury helicopters so skewed that during a cost-of-living crisis he thinks this is what people’s priorities are?”
Dowden said he was going to take “no lectures on profligacy from the SNP”.
Black also said the Government’s biggest achievement is “trashing the economy just a wee bit slower than their predecessor”.
She added: “When the Prime Minister took office he said he would put economic stability and confidence at the heart of this Government. Today, UK interest rates are one of the highest in the G20 and mortgage rates are rising nearly back to where they were after the former PM crashed the economy.
“Is it not the case that this Government’s biggest achievement is that they are trashing the economy just a wee bit slower than their predecessor?”
Dowden replied: “Again, the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) upgraded our growth forecast.
He added: “And one month ago, the whole nation came together celebrating that wonderful moment of pomp, pageantry, and pride in our nation, and what did she describe it as? I quote, a pantomime. Well, the real pantomime is the SNP in Scotland.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here .
