Boris Johnson takes private jet to fly 25 minutes from Doncaster to Darlington, despite train taking just 53 minutes

Boris Johnson has been criticised after using a private jet to fly from Doncaster to Darlington - a journey that takes less than an hour by train.

The prime minister took the plane as he embarked on a tour of marginal constituencies in the north east three days before the general election.

Doncaster and Darlington are connected by a direct train route that takes 53 minutes, but the prime minister instead opted for a 25-minute flight.

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Opposition parties criticised the "unnecessary and environmentally damaging" journey, while environmental groups called it "absurb and unacceptable".

Mr Johnson has often talked up his party's green credentials and last month claimed that there was "nothing more conservative than protecting our environment".​

Short flights are one of the most environmentally damaging forms of transport.

Mr Johnson and his team, plus journalists travelling with the prime minister, were the only passengers on the flight, which those on board said was only two-thirds full.

The plane was operated by Danish charter company Alsie Express, which says it allows customers to "make the most of your aircraft and your time".

It guarantees "time, comfort, [and] hassle-free travel without a moment wasted" and promises passengers that it will make sure "that your favourite drink is perfectly chilled".

Mr Johnson was expected to use the plane for a second flight, from the north east to the Midlands, later in the day.

Announcing his party's environmental policies last month, Mr Johnson said: “There is nothing more conservative than protecting our environment and these measures sit alongside our world-leading commitment to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050."

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The party's manifesto promises that the Tories will "lead the global fight against climate change", and includes pledges to "support clean transport to ensure clean air" and "crack down on the waste and carelessness that destroys our natural environment".

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General election: On the campaign trail 1/107 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a Christmas market in Salisbury REUTERS 2/107 Liberal Democrat Leader Jo Swinson on the election campaign bus on route to Chelmsford PA 3/107 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn talking to a university worker outside Birkbeck/SOAS University of London, at the announcement of his parties of the plan for the extension of workers' rights PA 4/107 Nicola Sturgeon plays a game with string during a visit to Perth and District YMCA Getty Images 5/107 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage picks up a copy of The Brexiteer during a visit to JPI Printers in Dinnington PA 6/107 Boris Johnson, centre, talks to veteran James Gammer as he visits a veterans centre AP 7/107 SNP supporters meet First Minister Nicola Sturgeon following her address during a St Andrews day election speech Getty 8/107 Jeremy Corbyn has a photo taken outside Birkbeck/SOAS University PA 9/107 Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson during a visit to the Cardiff United Synagogue PA 10/107 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage reacts as he attends an election debate ITV/Reuters 11/107 Jeremy Corbyn wears a jacked displaying Labour's slogan 'For the many, not the few' EPA 12/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson on The Andrew Marr Show Getty 13/107 Nicola Sturgeon plays with local children during a visit to the Jelly Tots & Cookies Play Cafe in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire PA 14/107 Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn eats some chips in Whitby, northern England AFP via Getty 15/107 Boris Johnson and Conservative MP George Eustice, left, tour 'Rodda's Clotted Cream' whilst campaigning in Cornwall Getty 16/107 Jo Swinson during a visit to Dunkertons Cider Company, an organic and plastic free brewery in Cheltenham PA 17/107 Jeremy Corbyn holds up unreacted documents with NHS staff. Mr Corbyn released uncensored official documents which he says provides confirmation that the NHS is on the table in trade talks with the USA EPA 18/107 Nigel Farage meets locals in Barnsley market PA 19/107 Nicola Sturgeon launches the SNP's general election manifesto Getty 20/107 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses the audience during the launch of Labour's environmental policy in Southampton Getty 21/107 Boris Johnson tries an apple as he visits Healey's Cornish Cyder Farm in Callestick AP 22/107 Jo Swinson helps make a chicken tikka masala during a visit to the Ashoka restaurant in Bearsden, Glasgow PA 23/107 Nigel Farage playing golf on a range at One Stop Golf in Hull PA 24/107 Jeremy Corbyn addresses the audience during a climate emergency rally in Falmouth Getty 25/107 Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson meets supporters during a visit to Dunkertons Cider Company PA 26/107 Boris Johnson visits Chulmleigh College AP 27/107 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn as he appearing on the BBC political programme The Andrew Neil Show. The opposition leader defended his handling of anti-Semitism allegations after Britain's most senior rabbi suggested the issue was a "new poison" within the party that had been "sanctioned from the very top". In an unprecedented intervention ahead of next month's election, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis suggested Corbyn was "unfit for high office" due to his perceived failure to clamp down on the problem within the party BBC/AFP via Getty 28/107 PA 29/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson launches the Conservative Party Scottish Manifesto in North Queensferry Getty 30/107 Britain's Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn poses with WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) supporters after he outlined Labour's plans to repay the "historical debt of honour" owed to women born in the 1950's AFP via Getty 31/107 Jo Swinson alongside the Lib Dem's candidate for Truro and Falmouth, Ruth Gripper, and founder of Finisterre, Tom Kay, during a tour of the British surfing brand, which creates sustainable surfing gear, in St Agnes, Cornwall PA 32/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson poses with sheep as he visits the Royal Welsh Showground, in Llanelwedd PA 33/107 A coalition of NHS (National Health Service) campaigners led by "Keep Our NHS Public" and "We Own It", pose for photographs with masks of US President Donal Trump, right, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson carving up the NHS with a giant knife and fork, as they take part in a demonstration on Parliament Square. The campaigners are calling for the NHS to be taken "off the table" in a trade deal with the US by ending privatisation in the health service and restoring it to a wholly publicly owned and provided service AP 34/107 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage visits Plymouth Fisheries at Sutton Harbour Getty 35/107 SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon gives her party's candidate for North East Fife Stephen Gethins a haircut, during a visit to Craig Boyd Hairdressing in Leven PA 36/107 Vans belonging to The Community United against Labour Party anti-Semitism group, Culpa, parked next to a police car ahead of the Labour Race and Faith Manifesto launch Getty 37/107 Boris Johnson prepares to serve food at the Royal Welsh Showground PA 38/107 Jeremy Corbyn tries his hand at bricklaying during a visit to the West Nottinghamshire College Construction Centre, in Ashfield PA 39/107 Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson during a visit to the London design museum to discuss the party's tech policy PA 40/107 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage visits Seaham Getty 41/107 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives for the Conservative party's manifesto launch in Telford Reuters 42/107 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn meets supporters during a visit to Thurrock in Essex PA 43/107 Protesters wait for the arrival of Prime Minister Boris Johnson ahead of the launch of his party's manifesto PA 44/107 Jo Swinson gestures from atop a crane during a visit to an eco home building site in Sheffield AFP via Getty 45/107 Jeremy Corbyn meets a supporter on a train on his return from a visit to Sheffield PA 46/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to Bassetlaw District General Hospital in Worksop, Nottinghamshire PA 47/107 Nigel Farage campaigns in Hartlepool Getty Images 48/107 Jeremy Corbyn outside an Amazon depot in Sheffield, to announce plans for a workers' rights revolution and to ensure big businesses pay their fair share of taxes PA 49/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, during their successive appearances on BBC Question Time Leaders' Special at the Octagon in Sheffield PA 50/107 Liberal Democratic Party leader Jo Swinson visits a primary school in Cambridge EPA 51/107 Boris Johnson lays a brick during a visit to the Barratt Homes Getty 52/107 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn attends the launch of the party's election manifesto at Birmingham City University Getty 53/107 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage holds his party policy document during the party's policy launch in Westminster PA 54/107 SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon joined Dundee East candidate Stewart Hosie to made a keynote speech at The Quay Getty 55/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a part of an electrical appliance during a General Election campaign trail stop at Ebac in Newton Aycliffe AP 56/107 Jeremy Corbyn poses during a visit to The Oatcake Boat on the Trent & Mersey Canal, Stoke Getty 57/107 Jo Swinson and Willie Rennie Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats gesture, during a visit to Glasgow Reuters 58/107 PA 59/107 Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson (left) during a visit to the Gurdwara Singh Sabha Temple in Glasgow PA 60/107 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn meets Colin and his mother after a speech at the University of Lancaster Getty Images 61/107 Britain's Green Party co-leaders Jonathan Bartley, Sian Berry, and deputy leader Amelia Womack, wave during the launch of the party manifesto at the Observatory at London Wetland Centre Reuters 62/107 Scottish Nationalist Party leader Nicola Sturgeon meets voters and activists at Cafe Roma in Clarkston, Glasgow AFP via Getty 63/107 Protestors participate in an anti-Boris Johnson rally in his constituency Uxbridge, west London AFP via Getty Images 64/107 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage looks out from a window on the Kestrel crabbing boat in Grimsby fish dock PA 65/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson on a tug boat in the port of Bristol PA 66/107 Green Party Co-Leader Sian Berry has a selfie taken with a supporter at the Observatory, London Wetlands Centre PA 67/107 Jo Swinson helps chef Leonardo Mastofilippo to make pizza during a campaign visit to cafe Amisha in South Bermonsey EPA 68/107 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) ladies during a visit to Birkenshaw Sports Barn in Uddingston EPA 69/107 Boris Johnson at the unveiling of the Conservative Party battlebus in Middleton, Greater Manchester PA 70/107 Nicola Sturgeon sits alongside Cycling Without Age user Cyril Corcoran (centre), aged 78, in an electric tricycle during a visit to Hawick, in the Scottish Borders PA 71/107 Nigel Farage holds a fish during a stop at the Grimsby Seafood Village PA 72/107 Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson in the boxing ring at Total Boxer, a specialised boxing gym which offers training to young people as a means of keeping them away from violence, in Crouch End, London PA 73/107 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts as he participates in a school art lesson, making a clay figure at George Spencer Academy, west of Nottingham AFP via Getty 74/107 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn during a visit to the Heart of Scotstoun Community Centre in Glasgow PA 75/107 Scotland's First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon visits the Cafe Gelato in Rutherglen, Glasgow EPA 76/107 The Green Party launch in Bristol PA 77/107 Farage enjoys some chips at the start of a nationwide tour for the 2019 general election, in Whitehaven AFP/Getty 78/107 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn unveils the Labour battle bus in Liverpool PA 79/107 Boris Johnson reacts as he talks with workers whilst weighing packaged tea bags at the Tetley Tea Factory in Stockton-on-Tees AFP/Getty 80/107 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage on the campaign trail in Whitehaven, where he was confronted by Karl Connor PA 81/107 Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson speaks to volunteer Rosie Squires in the Stainforth 4 All charity shop during a visit to Stainforth in South Yorkshire to meet people affected by flooding PA 82/107 Nicola Sturgeon poses with candidates during the SNP general election campaign launch in Edinburgh Reuters 83/107 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn with Laura McAlpine, the party's candidate for Harlow PA 84/107 Anti-Boris Johnson protesters demonstrate outside the hall where the Conservative Party were launching their campaign in Birmingham EPA 85/107 Green Party Co-Leader Sian Berry (left), Deputy Leader and Parliamentary Candidate for Newport West Amelia Womack (right), and Bristol West Candidate Carla Denyer (centre) at the launch of the party's general election manifesto in Bristol PA 86/107 The PM tastes whisky during a visit to Diageo's Roseisle Distillery near Elgin, Scotland Reuters 87/107 Nigel Farage poses with boxer Dereck Chisora during a visit to a boxing gym in Ilford Reuters 88/107 Jo Swinson visits a science class at Hinchley Wood School near Esher Reuters 89/107 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon holds a guitar as she visits Dalkeith Community Hub Getty 90/107 A man heckles as Jeremy Corbyn gives a speech at the Senior Citizens Hall in Macclesfield Getty 91/107 Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn visits residents affected by flooding in Conisbrough Reuters 92/107 Boris Johnson gestures as he helps quality control staff during a visit to the Tayto Castle crisp factory in County Armagh, Northern Ireland AFP via Getty 93/107 The Lib Dem leader eats a marshmallow during a visit to Free Rangers Nursery in Midsomer Norton, Somerset PA 94/107 Nigel Farage visits a butcher's shop in Sutton-in-Ashfield Reuters 95/107 SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon visits Blosson Tree children's nursery AFP via Getty 96/107 Jeremy Corbyn laughs during a visit to the Scrap Creative Reuse Arts Project, Sunny Bank Mills Getty 97/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson hold Rosie the rabbit during a visit to a primary school while on the campaign trail in Taunton AFP via Getty 98/107 Jo Swinson playing with children at the Battersea Arts Centre in Lavender Hill PA 99/107 Farage addresses supporters at the Washington Central Hotel in Workington PA 100/107 Jeremy Corbyn poses with Labour activists as they canvas in Govan, Glasgow PA 101/107 Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to The Shed, a Climate Challenge community project at North Edinburgh Arts PA 102/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets six month old Willow Rose Anderson, at the Lych Gate Tavern in Wolverhampton PA 103/107 Jo Swinson holds up a sack of barley during a visit to Crafty Maltsters Scotland Getty 104/107 Jeremy Corbyn tries a scone in Bentley, Doncaster PA 105/107 Nigel Farage takes a mouthful of homemade cheesecake during a stop at the Grimsby Seafood Village PA 106/107 Boris Johnson hauling a consignment of frozen chocolate gateaux, during a visit to Iceland Foods HQ in Deeside PA 107/107 Jo Swinson puts on a high visibility jacket during a visit to Sigma Pharmaceuticals, a family run pharmaceutical wholesaler in Watford AFP via Getty 1/107 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a Christmas market in Salisbury REUTERS 2/107 Liberal Democrat Leader Jo Swinson on the election campaign bus on route to Chelmsford PA 3/107 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn talking to a university worker outside Birkbeck/SOAS University of London, at the announcement of his parties of the plan for the extension of workers' rights PA 4/107 Nicola Sturgeon plays a game with string during a visit to Perth and District YMCA Getty Images 5/107 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage picks up a copy of The Brexiteer during a visit to JPI Printers in Dinnington PA 6/107 Boris Johnson, centre, talks to veteran James Gammer as he visits a veterans centre AP 7/107 SNP supporters meet First Minister Nicola Sturgeon following her address during a St Andrews day election speech Getty 8/107 Jeremy Corbyn has a photo taken outside Birkbeck/SOAS University PA 9/107 Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson during a visit to the Cardiff United Synagogue PA 10/107 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage reacts as he attends an election debate ITV/Reuters 11/107 Jeremy Corbyn wears a jacked displaying Labour's slogan 'For the many, not the few' EPA 12/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson on The Andrew Marr Show Getty 13/107 Nicola Sturgeon plays with local children during a visit to the Jelly Tots & Cookies Play Cafe in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire PA 14/107 Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn eats some chips in Whitby, northern England AFP via Getty 15/107 Boris Johnson and Conservative MP George Eustice, left, tour 'Rodda's Clotted Cream' whilst campaigning in Cornwall Getty 16/107 Jo Swinson during a visit to Dunkertons Cider Company, an organic and plastic free brewery in Cheltenham PA 17/107 Jeremy Corbyn holds up unreacted documents with NHS staff. Mr Corbyn released uncensored official documents which he says provides confirmation that the NHS is on the table in trade talks with the USA EPA 18/107 Nigel Farage meets locals in Barnsley market PA 19/107 Nicola Sturgeon launches the SNP's general election manifesto Getty 20/107 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses the audience during the launch of Labour's environmental policy in Southampton Getty 21/107 Boris Johnson tries an apple as he visits Healey's Cornish Cyder Farm in Callestick AP 22/107 Jo Swinson helps make a chicken tikka masala during a visit to the Ashoka restaurant in Bearsden, Glasgow PA 23/107 Nigel Farage playing golf on a range at One Stop Golf in Hull PA 24/107 Jeremy Corbyn addresses the audience during a climate emergency rally in Falmouth Getty 25/107 Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson meets supporters during a visit to Dunkertons Cider Company PA 26/107 Boris Johnson visits Chulmleigh College AP 27/107 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn as he appearing on the BBC political programme The Andrew Neil Show. The opposition leader defended his handling of anti-Semitism allegations after Britain's most senior rabbi suggested the issue was a "new poison" within the party that had been "sanctioned from the very top". In an unprecedented intervention ahead of next month's election, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis suggested Corbyn was "unfit for high office" due to his perceived failure to clamp down on the problem within the party BBC/AFP via Getty 28/107 PA 29/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson launches the Conservative Party Scottish Manifesto in North Queensferry Getty 30/107 Britain's Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn poses with WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) supporters after he outlined Labour's plans to repay the "historical debt of honour" owed to women born in the 1950's AFP via Getty 31/107 Jo Swinson alongside the Lib Dem's candidate for Truro and Falmouth, Ruth Gripper, and founder of Finisterre, Tom Kay, during a tour of the British surfing brand, which creates sustainable surfing gear, in St Agnes, Cornwall PA 32/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson poses with sheep as he visits the Royal Welsh Showground, in Llanelwedd PA 33/107 A coalition of NHS (National Health Service) campaigners led by "Keep Our NHS Public" and "We Own It", pose for photographs with masks of US President Donal Trump, right, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson carving up the NHS with a giant knife and fork, as they take part in a demonstration on Parliament Square. The campaigners are calling for the NHS to be taken "off the table" in a trade deal with the US by ending privatisation in the health service and restoring it to a wholly publicly owned and provided service AP 34/107 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage visits Plymouth Fisheries at Sutton Harbour Getty 35/107 SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon gives her party's candidate for North East Fife Stephen Gethins a haircut, during a visit to Craig Boyd Hairdressing in Leven PA 36/107 Vans belonging to The Community United against Labour Party anti-Semitism group, Culpa, parked next to a police car ahead of the Labour Race and Faith Manifesto launch Getty 37/107 Boris Johnson prepares to serve food at the Royal Welsh Showground PA 38/107 Jeremy Corbyn tries his hand at bricklaying during a visit to the West Nottinghamshire College Construction Centre, in Ashfield PA 39/107 Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson during a visit to the London design museum to discuss the party's tech policy PA 40/107 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage visits Seaham Getty 41/107 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives for the Conservative party's manifesto launch in Telford Reuters 42/107 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn meets supporters during a visit to Thurrock in Essex PA 43/107 Protesters wait for the arrival of Prime Minister Boris Johnson ahead of the launch of his party's manifesto PA 44/107 Jo Swinson gestures from atop a crane during a visit to an eco home building site in Sheffield AFP via Getty 45/107 Jeremy Corbyn meets a supporter on a train on his return from a visit to Sheffield PA 46/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to Bassetlaw District General Hospital in Worksop, Nottinghamshire PA 47/107 Nigel Farage campaigns in Hartlepool Getty Images 48/107 Jeremy Corbyn outside an Amazon depot in Sheffield, to announce plans for a workers' rights revolution and to ensure big businesses pay their fair share of taxes PA 49/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, during their successive appearances on BBC Question Time Leaders' Special at the Octagon in Sheffield PA 50/107 Liberal Democratic Party leader Jo Swinson visits a primary school in Cambridge EPA 51/107 Boris Johnson lays a brick during a visit to the Barratt Homes Getty 52/107 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn attends the launch of the party's election manifesto at Birmingham City University Getty 53/107 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage holds his party policy document during the party's policy launch in Westminster PA 54/107 SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon joined Dundee East candidate Stewart Hosie to made a keynote speech at The Quay Getty 55/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a part of an electrical appliance during a General Election campaign trail stop at Ebac in Newton Aycliffe AP 56/107 Jeremy Corbyn poses during a visit to The Oatcake Boat on the Trent & Mersey Canal, Stoke Getty 57/107 Jo Swinson and Willie Rennie Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats gesture, during a visit to Glasgow Reuters 58/107 PA 59/107 Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson (left) during a visit to the Gurdwara Singh Sabha Temple in Glasgow PA 60/107 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn meets Colin and his mother after a speech at the University of Lancaster Getty Images 61/107 Britain's Green Party co-leaders Jonathan Bartley, Sian Berry, and deputy leader Amelia Womack, wave during the launch of the party manifesto at the Observatory at London Wetland Centre Reuters 62/107 Scottish Nationalist Party leader Nicola Sturgeon meets voters and activists at Cafe Roma in Clarkston, Glasgow AFP via Getty 63/107 Protestors participate in an anti-Boris Johnson rally in his constituency Uxbridge, west London AFP via Getty Images 64/107 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage looks out from a window on the Kestrel crabbing boat in Grimsby fish dock PA 65/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson on a tug boat in the port of Bristol PA 66/107 Green Party Co-Leader Sian Berry has a selfie taken with a supporter at the Observatory, London Wetlands Centre PA 67/107 Jo Swinson helps chef Leonardo Mastofilippo to make pizza during a campaign visit to cafe Amisha in South Bermonsey EPA 68/107 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) ladies during a visit to Birkenshaw Sports Barn in Uddingston EPA 69/107 Boris Johnson at the unveiling of the Conservative Party battlebus in Middleton, Greater Manchester PA 70/107 Nicola Sturgeon sits alongside Cycling Without Age user Cyril Corcoran (centre), aged 78, in an electric tricycle during a visit to Hawick, in the Scottish Borders PA 71/107 Nigel Farage holds a fish during a stop at the Grimsby Seafood Village PA 72/107 Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson in the boxing ring at Total Boxer, a specialised boxing gym which offers training to young people as a means of keeping them away from violence, in Crouch End, London PA 73/107 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts as he participates in a school art lesson, making a clay figure at George Spencer Academy, west of Nottingham AFP via Getty 74/107 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn during a visit to the Heart of Scotstoun Community Centre in Glasgow PA 75/107 Scotland's First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon visits the Cafe Gelato in Rutherglen, Glasgow EPA 76/107 The Green Party launch in Bristol PA 77/107 Farage enjoys some chips at the start of a nationwide tour for the 2019 general election, in Whitehaven AFP/Getty 78/107 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn unveils the Labour battle bus in Liverpool PA 79/107 Boris Johnson reacts as he talks with workers whilst weighing packaged tea bags at the Tetley Tea Factory in Stockton-on-Tees AFP/Getty 80/107 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage on the campaign trail in Whitehaven, where he was confronted by Karl Connor PA 81/107 Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson speaks to volunteer Rosie Squires in the Stainforth 4 All charity shop during a visit to Stainforth in South Yorkshire to meet people affected by flooding PA 82/107 Nicola Sturgeon poses with candidates during the SNP general election campaign launch in Edinburgh Reuters 83/107 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn with Laura McAlpine, the party's candidate for Harlow PA 84/107 Anti-Boris Johnson protesters demonstrate outside the hall where the Conservative Party were launching their campaign in Birmingham EPA 85/107 Green Party Co-Leader Sian Berry (left), Deputy Leader and Parliamentary Candidate for Newport West Amelia Womack (right), and Bristol West Candidate Carla Denyer (centre) at the launch of the party's general election manifesto in Bristol PA 86/107 The PM tastes whisky during a visit to Diageo's Roseisle Distillery near Elgin, Scotland Reuters 87/107 Nigel Farage poses with boxer Dereck Chisora during a visit to a boxing gym in Ilford Reuters 88/107 Jo Swinson visits a science class at Hinchley Wood School near Esher Reuters 89/107 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon holds a guitar as she visits Dalkeith Community Hub Getty 90/107 A man heckles as Jeremy Corbyn gives a speech at the Senior Citizens Hall in Macclesfield Getty 91/107 Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn visits residents affected by flooding in Conisbrough Reuters 92/107 Boris Johnson gestures as he helps quality control staff during a visit to the Tayto Castle crisp factory in County Armagh, Northern Ireland AFP via Getty 93/107 The Lib Dem leader eats a marshmallow during a visit to Free Rangers Nursery in Midsomer Norton, Somerset PA 94/107 Nigel Farage visits a butcher's shop in Sutton-in-Ashfield Reuters 95/107 SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon visits Blosson Tree children's nursery AFP via Getty 96/107 Jeremy Corbyn laughs during a visit to the Scrap Creative Reuse Arts Project, Sunny Bank Mills Getty 97/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson hold Rosie the rabbit during a visit to a primary school while on the campaign trail in Taunton AFP via Getty 98/107 Jo Swinson playing with children at the Battersea Arts Centre in Lavender Hill PA 99/107 Farage addresses supporters at the Washington Central Hotel in Workington PA 100/107 Jeremy Corbyn poses with Labour activists as they canvas in Govan, Glasgow PA 101/107 Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to The Shed, a Climate Challenge community project at North Edinburgh Arts PA 102/107 Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets six month old Willow Rose Anderson, at the Lych Gate Tavern in Wolverhampton PA 103/107 Jo Swinson holds up a sack of barley during a visit to Crafty Maltsters Scotland Getty 104/107 Jeremy Corbyn tries a scone in Bentley, Doncaster PA 105/107 Nigel Farage takes a mouthful of homemade cheesecake during a stop at the Grimsby Seafood Village PA 106/107 Boris Johnson hauling a consignment of frozen chocolate gateaux, during a visit to Iceland Foods HQ in Deeside PA 107/107 Jo Swinson puts on a high visibility jacket during a visit to Sigma Pharmaceuticals, a family run pharmaceutical wholesaler in Watford AFP via Getty

Opposition parties and environmental groups criticised Mr Johnson's decision to take the short flight.

Andy McDonald, Labour's shadow transport secretary, told The Independent: "How can Boris Johnson say he is committed to bringing down emissions when he's prepared to take unnecessary and environmentally damaging flights?

"Boris Johnson is living proof that the majority of flights are taken by the privileged few, while the rest of us pay the price of global heating.

"Under a Labour government we'll make sure that our trains and buses are properly invested in, so that Boris Johnson can make more environmentally friendly decisions in the future."

Greenpeace UK’s chief scientist, Doug Parr, said: “Boris Johnson’s manifesto came second bottom in our climate and nature ranking, and now he’s turbocharging his carbon footprint during an election campaign where the climate emergency is one of the top concerns for voters.

“It’s absurd and unacceptable for anyone to take a flight for a journey that could be done less than an hour by train, not least the prime minister, who should be leading by example. It makes his lack of ambition for tackling the issue glaringly obvious.”

Aaron Kiely, a climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: “Saving half an hour of travel time has resulted in a journey that’s far worse for the planet. It’s impossible to see what benefit could come from flying over such a short distance rather than using a train, or even campaign bus. Nobody, including the prime minister, can get away from the fact that fewer planes in the sky will help to fix the climate crisis.”

Conservative officials said the decision to fly had been taken because of the prime minister's tight schedule.