Anger at £1m bill to paint PM’S plane in Union colours
● RAF Voyager in red, white and blue makeover to boost ‘Global Britain’
Opposition parties have reacted with anger after Downing Street confirmed that re paintingthe plane used by the prime Minister and the Royal Family in Union flag colours will cost the taxpayer almost £1m.
The grey RAF Voyager jet is receiving a pre-planned makeover at an airport in Cambridge, with red, white and blue expected to be used.
Boris Johnson had previously questioned why the plane is grey, and said as foreign secretary that he would like to have a “Brexit plane” to help him travel the world and promote the Government’s vision of ‘Global Britain’.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told journalists that the cost of the respray would be £900,000. The Voyager will resume its other military role as a mid-air refuelling tanker when it returns to service.
“This is a design that will promote the UK around the world without compromising the plane’s vital military role,” the spokesman said.
“At every stage we have worked to ensure value for money for the UK. All of the work has been undertaken in the UK, directly benefiting British suppliers.”
The spokesman was unable to confirm when the plane would be ready for use.
Sky News, which broke the story, reported a defence source saying the paint job sounded like something “from
Austin Powers”. A spokesman for the Royal Air Force said: “An RAF Voyager is currently in Cambridgeshire for preplanned works.”
The SNP’S defence spokesman Stewart Mcdonald said the sum being spent on the plane was “beyond shameful”.
“This is an utterly unacceptable use of public funds whilst members of the armed forces are spending their own money on uniforms and kit, and the equipment plan deficit is well into the billions for several years running,” he said.
“The Prime Minister is detached from the difficulties facing ordinary families and has abandoned any attempt to act in the interests of people across the UK.”
Jamie Stone, the Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, said the cost of the refurbishment was “disgraceful”.
“This absurd waste of nearly £1 million at a time when so many families are struggling to put food on the table and so many are worried about their job security is insulting,” the Caithness MP said.
“The country is facing the biggest crisis in generations but Boris is concerned with the colours of his plane. This government continue to astound with their posturing.”