Tory MPs voice unease over Sunak’s flying pharmacy visit

PM's costly helicopter trip to Southampton to announce prescription reforms underlines fears of some he is out of touch

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.