Prime Minister Andy Burnham has faced criticism after the Government's VIP Airbus A321 diverted to Manchester Airport solely to collect him, with rivals and campaigners accusing him of using the state jet "like an Uber."
Criticism from political rivals
Conservative MP Neil O'Brien condemned the decision in a post on X, writing: "YOU have to pay through the nose for energy and fuel to pursue their Net Zero obsession." He added: "LABOUR get to waste taxpayers money and jet fuel so they can posture. He lectures and imposes massive green taxes on the rest of us but then uses a massive jet as the world's most expensive Uber."
Tory MP Mike Wood also joined the criticism, saying: "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."
Cost of the detour
Josh O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said during an interview on GB News: "Costs should be kept to a minimum for the PM's flights. What's worse is eco-obsessed politicians putting up taxes on holiday makers one minute, while taking a private plane the next. The British PM is of course entitled to fly overseas, but shouldn't make it harder for families to do the same."
The Government's VIP Airbus A321 took off from London Stansted at around 6am, carrying senior officials and delegates. Burnham was reportedly not on board. Instead, the aircraft flew roughly 34 minutes north to Manchester Airport, where it collected the Prime Minister and his wife, Marie-France van Heel. The plane then sat on the ground in Manchester for about an hour before continuing to a refuelling stop in Canada and then to its final destination: Antigua, for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Political website Guido Fawkes estimated the short domestic detour alone cost around £20,000 in extra fuel and operating costs.
Reason for Manchester pick-up
The reason for the Manchester pick-up is understood to be linked to Burnham's "No. 10 North" push, under which he has insisted on spending at least one day a week working from new Government offices in Manchester rather than being based in London full-time. Because he was in the North at the end of last week, the flight was routed to meet him there.
Downing Street has defended the arrangements, insisting the Manchester stop was agreed after taking account of security requirements, operational considerations and "value for money," given the wider delegation was travelling to the same summit.
