Miliband spends 10 times more on foreign trips than Tory predecessor

Ed Miliband has spent 10 times more on foreign trips than his Tory predecessor, figures have revealed.
The Energy and Net Zero Secretary spent £62,712 on overseas travel since coming to power last year, an analysis by the TaxPayers' Alliance has found.
By contrast, Claire Coutinho, his Conservative predecessor, spent £6,155 in the first six months of 2024 after being appointed to the role on Aug 31 2023.
Mr Miliband has previously warned the public to reduce domestic flights 'as much as we possibly can', while himself taking long-haul journeys to international climate change summits.
'Net zero evangelism'
The revelation has triggered criticism, with Sir Iain Duncan Smith, former Tory leader, accusing Mr Miliband of hypocrisy.
'This is yet another example of the 'do what I say not what I do' politics of the net zero evangelism and its high priest Miliband,' he said.
'As his zealotry ensures the UK has the most expensive energy in the world one thing is for sure, he won't be visiting the multitude of once proud British industry that has been driven out of the UK by his expensive energy plans.'
Richard Tice, Reform UK's deputy leader, added: 'No longer Red Ed, Miliband has become Jet Ed, the flying green hypocrite.'
In August 2024, Mr Miliband spent £25,002.65 on a trip to Brazil 'to signal Britain's resurgent ambition for global leadership on international climate', as well as positioning the country 'strategically' ahead of the G20 summit in autumn 2024 and Cop30 in autumn 2025.
In September 2024, he spent £19505.80 on a trip to New York to 'attend New York Climate week' and the United Nations General Assembly.
He spent £7,228.29 on a flight to Washington last October to attend the G20 Energy Ministerial, and a further £10,975.67 on a trip to Baku, Azerbaijan last November to attend Cop29.
In his role as energy secretary, Mr Miliband's clean energy projects have attracted growing criticism.
Last year, he unveiled plans to spend £22bn on a string of clean energy projects including carbon capture, a scheme in which carbon dioxide is captured and buried permanently deep underground.
Joanna Marchong, investigations campaign manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'Ed Miliband has barely touched the ground since taking office, all while lecturing the public on net zero.
'While overseas holidays for families are being taxed out of existence, ministers are jet-setting around the globe on the taxpayer's tab.
'Hard-working Brits shouldn't have to fund this climate hypocrisy from MPs who refuse to practice what they preach.'
A Tory spokesman added: 'As per usual, it's one rule for Labour ministers and another for everyone else. He's keen to wreck other people's finances in his mad dash to net zero – but he's all too happy to jet across the word.
'Red Ed promised lower bills, but they're going through the roof because of him. The sooner he realises his eco zealotry is crippling our economy, sending your bills skyrocketing and making us less secure the better.'

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