Sunak’s flying visit to unveil pharmacy plan underlines out of touch image

Tory MPs worry costly helicopter trip to Southampton to announce prescription reforms won’t endear PM to voters

Rishi Sunak flew to the south coast and back by helicopter to announce a new government health policy on Tuesday as he tried to calm Conservative jitters after a disastrous set of local election results.

In the latest example of the prime minister’s fondness for short-distance air travel, the prime minister visited Southampton to set out plans for pharmacists to provide prescriptions for millions of patients in England to help ease the GP crisis.