Andy Burnham‘s new Energy Secretary previously pushed for green taxes to be slapped on plane tickets. Miatta Fahnbulleh, who has taken over from Ed Miliband, called for levies for regular travellers when she was the head of the New Economics Foundation between 2017 and 2023.

While she was in the role, the think tank suggested replacing Air Passenger Duty with a Frequent Flyer Levy to help reach net zero targets. The proposals would have seen a charge added to tickets that would increase for every flight taken over a 12-month period.

People would not be charged for the first leisure flight of the year, but the second would have an additional £25 fee, the third £60, the fourth £105 and the fifth £160, while the tenth would incur an eye-watering £585 levy.

The costs would be even higher for people travelling for business, with no exemption for the first flight.

Tory Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden said: “Families are already paying some of the highest flight taxes in the world just to get away for a well-earned break, yet Andy Burnham’s pick as Labour’s Energy Secretary wants to pile another tax on top.

“Labour punish anyone who dares to fly for a holiday, then spends the proceeds propping up ever more benefit handouts.

“British families are being taxed through the roof so Labour can paper over an economic disaster of their own making.”

Last year, after Ms Fahnbulleh had left as chief executive, the think tank proposed a new charge applying to people flying six times or more in a one-year period.

It comes as Tory leader Kemi Badenoch today said Ms Fahnbulleh was “possibly worse” than her predecessor Mr Miliband because “she wants net zero by 2030” as she gave a speech in London.

A Government spokesperson said: “This is not government policy. We’ve cut VAT on electricity to give families breathing space. The Energy Secretary’s focus is working to bring bills down for good.”