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| Tory leader in green controversy | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Labour has accused Tory leader David Cameron of hypocrisy after it emerged he used a private jet to travel 90 miles from Oxford to Hereford. | |
| Mr Cameron's spokesman said the return flight on 4 January had been offset for carbon emissions. | |
| His green credentials were put under further scrutiny by the Sunday Mirror which examined the contents of his bin and found various recyclable items. | |
| Friends of the Earth said it was not the sort of behaviour they expected. | |
| The Conservative leader travelled with his wife Samantha and daughter Nancy from Oxford airport, near his Witney constituency, to the home of businessman Richard Smith in Shobdon. | |
| Emissions | |
| The Tory leader's spokesman said Mr Smith was designing a new wheelchair for Mr Cameron's son, Ivan. | The Tory leader's spokesman said Mr Smith was designing a new wheelchair for Mr Cameron's son, Ivan. |
| "[Mr Smith] offered a plane to get them there because David had to be back that evening. He was due to give a speech on the armed forces. | "[Mr Smith] offered a plane to get them there because David had to be back that evening. He was due to give a speech on the armed forces. |
| "All the flights that David takes are offset for carbon emissions, as are the road and rail trips." | "All the flights that David takes are offset for carbon emissions, as are the road and rail trips." |
| If politicians ignore their own responsibility, it's difficult for them to expect others to do anything else Roger Higman, Friends of the Earth class="" href="/1/hi/business/6274325.stm">Quick guide: carbon offsetting | |
| Flying generates around one and a half times the carbon emissions of a journey by car. | |
| But shorter trips by air create proportionally more CO2, since so much is generated at take-off and landing. | |
| The campaigns director of Friends of the Earth Roger Higman said Mr Cameron had a duty to show responsibility. | |
| "What really matters is what the government does in setting a framework of sustainability. But we expect to be led, and that includes personal behaviour. | |
| "If politicians ignore their own responsibility, it's difficult for them to expect others to do anything else." | |
| 'Regrettable' | |
| Oliver Letwin, in charge of the Tories' policy review, said such actions were a "regrettable" part of political life. | Oliver Letwin, in charge of the Tories' policy review, said such actions were a "regrettable" part of political life. |
| "In politics you are sometimes in an amazing rush. | "In politics you are sometimes in an amazing rush. |
| "I certainly wouldn't criticise the prime minister for having to do that sort of thing occasionally." | "I certainly wouldn't criticise the prime minister for having to do that sort of thing occasionally." |
| But Labour's John Healey, a Treasury minister, said the incident showed Mr Cameron's commitment to the environment was "all for the cameras". | |
| "It just shows that Cameron believes there's one rule for him and his Tory friends, and another for the rest of us." | "It just shows that Cameron believes there's one rule for him and his Tory friends, and another for the rest of us." |
| Rubbish | |
| The Tory leader's green credentials came under further examination from a tabloid newspaper that examined the contents of his bin. | |
| The Sunday Mirror found recyclable waste mixed with the general rubbish, as well as disposable nappies. | |
| The paper accused Mr Cameron of failing to live up to his green crusade. |