Pot shots at PM’s travel stupid

All this nonsense about ministerial travel costs arose in response Adam seems to recall from a question asked by new intake Labour MP Chris Hipkins.

Perhaps someone should take Hipkins aside and quietly squelch him.

Ministerial travel is a necessity. We are a small distant travel, it is critical that our politicians travel and travel frequently in many cases in order to represent us properly.

As Tracy Watkins notes:-

I’ve accompanied prime ministers on numerous overseas trips (cattle class all the way in my case, sadly). Anyone who thinks they are one long prime ministerial junket is mad.

They arrive to back-to-back meetings, long days and meetings that stretch into equally long nights. They would be lucky to scrape up enough spare time to hunt out some post cards. While there, they rub shoulders with other world leaders, most of whom have arrived on their own jets. To them, the idea that they climb back on board a commercial flight and shun first class for business class would be preposterous.

As it should be.

Personally Adam thinks that first class travel can be justified. Just what image do all those complaining think we present to the world with this silly carping, with young media hungry MPs like Hipkins aided and abetted by some sill media elements.