Government Jet Diverted for Burnham Pickup
Plane made an unscheduled stop in Manchester to collect the Prime Minister before a Commonwealth summit, drawing criticism.
Sarah Connor
A government-chartered plane made an unexpected stop in Manchester to pick up Andy Burnham.
The jet, bound for Antigua for a Commonwealth summit, collected Burnham and his wife approximately 30 minutes after landing. The plane remained on the ground for an hour before departing via Canada for a refuelling stop, ultimately heading to Antigua and Barbuda.
Downing Street confirmed the travel arrangements. Officials stated the decisions reflected security, operational requirements, and value for money. A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed, "The Prime Minister's travel arrangements reflect where he was carrying out official government business at the end of last week."
The decision to divert the plane drew accusations of hypocrisy. This criticism follows Labour's past condemnations of Rishi Sunak's use of private planes and helicopters for domestic travel during his premiership.
Labour cancelled a £40 million helicopter contract upon taking office.
The flight plan could have cost taxpayers an additional £20,000. The decision was also more financially and environmentally costly than if the Prime Minister had travelled to London.
Labour promised a crackdown on private jet use. Yet when it comes to Air Miles Andy, it seems to be one rule for him and another for everyone else.
Conservative Party figures criticised the move. Mike Wood claimed, "Labour promised a crackdown on private jet use. Yet when it comes to Air Miles Andy, it seems to be one rule for him and another for everyone else."
Neil O'Brien added that Labour "gets to waste taxpayers' money and jet fuel so they can posture." O'Brien further claimed that Burnham "lectures and imposes massive green taxes on the rest of us but then uses a massive jet as the world's most expensive Uber."
Lee Anderson also stated that "taxpayers' money is no object for Andy Burnham." He added that "this out-of-touch Prime Minister is using the taxpayer as a cash cow to fund unnecessary flights."
Burnham, who spends weekends at his family home on the outskirts of Wigan, attends the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. He expressed openness to calls for a formal British apology for the UK’s role in the slave trade.
Burnham stated, "Listening to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state will form an important part of this process, and I am open to them." The Foreign Office will lead work on the international component of the structured dialogue regarding the transatlantic slave trade.