Andy Burnham's 4,000-mile round trip to deliver SIX MINUTE climate warning to half empty hall

Andy Burnham jetted off to Turkey to address the Cop31 summit this morning, where he warned European leaders "climate change is a national security issue" and reaffirmed Labour's commitment to Net Zero.

But the Prime Minister only stayed in Antalya for 18 hours – delivering a six-minute speech in the process – before scrambling to Dublin this afternoon for the European Political Community, where he announced sanctions on all 10 of Russia's major oil producers.

This morning, Mr Burnham joined Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who landed at the summit on Tuesday and insisted climate change is "not a distant threat", adding: "It is upon us all now, devastating lives and livelihoods everywhere.

"Meanwhile, two wars across two continents have sent fuel prices and gas bills soaring for families and businesses across the world. The common thread running through all of this: our dependence on fossil fuels.

"The message I carry here at my Cop as UK Prime Minister is this, we’re committed to meeting our 2050 Net Zero target, and committed to working with all of our partners to reach theirs."

But Mr Burnham's pleas appeared to fall on deaf ears.

He was the sole leader of a G7 country present in Turkey today, with President Donald Trump refusing to send any delegations for the second year running.

A half-empty hall tuned in as the Prime Minister took to the stage for just a few short minutes early this morning – so he had the time to race back across the continent to Ireland.

He continued in Turkey: "We should all recognise the summer was not normal.

"The climate crisis is upon all of us now.

"The world has changed. The consensus we once enjoyed on science and climate action has broken down.

"We will not stand by and that’s why I’ve pledged a new era of British leadership over the next decade."

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The statistics behind his jet-setting are eyebrow-raising. He flew almost 4,000 miles in just over 24 hours to deliver the 764-word speech, which averages out at five miles per word and 666 miles a minute.

In total, Mr Burnham has clocked up more than 22,500 air miles on taxpayer-funded overseas flights in his first 115 days as Prime Minister, GB News can reveal.

His jet has flown around 1,000 miles within the UK and is close to being able to circle the world after touching down in the Irish capital today.

No10 was forced to defend the Prime Minister's whistle-stop visit on Thursday, saying it is "right to meet world leaders". However, Downing Street did not say who he met.

When asked why he could not do it by Zoom, No10 spokesman said: "He is determined to lead from the front to tackle the climate crisis."

There was no comment on claims he had no time to meet with Brazil's Lula. No10 said Mr Burnham had some "brush by in the margins" meetings but no further information.

Reform Deputy Leader Richard Tice told the People's Channel earlier today he "certainly wouldn't be going to any Cop summits" if his party were to get into No10, declaring them a "complete waste of time".

He added scrapping Net Zero would save "tens and tens and tens of billions of pounds every year".

"The only person that is going (to the summit) to satisfy his backbenchers is Andy Burnham, and he's going to blather a load of hot air into a bunch of waffling delegates.

"No one is interested, no one is listening - it's done!"

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