PM orders a £900,000 paint job for aeroplane

Red white and blue design will ‘promote UK around world’

Boris Johnson has ordered a UK Government jet be repainted in Union flag colours at a cost of nearly £1 million.

The grey RAF Voyager, used by the prime minister and royal family, is expected to get a red, white and blue makeover at an airport in Cambridge as part of a pre-planned overhaul.

As foreign secretary, Mr Johnson said he would like to have a “Brexit plane” to help him travel the world and promote the UK Government’s vision of “global Britain”.

The prime minister’s official spokesman confirmed yesterday the aircraft was in the middle of a £900,000 paint job.

The spokesman said: “It will have national branding and we expect the cost to be around £900,000.”

Asked if this was the right time for a vanity project, the spokesman said: “This is a design that will promote the UK around the world without compromising the plane’s vital military role.

“At every stage we have worked to ensure value for money for the UK. All the work has been undertaken in the UK, directly benefiting British suppliers.”

The spokesman could not confirm when the plane would be completed.

The twin-engined Voyager jet is earmarked for use by the prime minister, foreign secretary and senior members of the royal family.

It was bought by the RAF as a troop carrier and air tanker and underwent a £10m makeover in 2016 so it could be used by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson announced all migrant NHS and social care workers who have had to pay a surcharge to use the health service will be refunded.

The prime minister said those who had paid the charge “since May 21 will be refunded”, amid warnings from doctors’ groups that some staff are still being billed despite a previous commitment to scrap the policy.

It came after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told MPS “nothing has happened” in the month since Mr Johnson announced the surcharge would be dropped.

The policy sees workers coming to the UK from outside the European Economic Area asked to pay £400 towards the NHS.

Sir Keir said: “These are people on the frontline. The prime minister said he would act. When is he going to do so?”

Mr Johnson replied: “It is vital people who are working on the frontline, and NHS workers in particular, get the support they need.

“That’s why I said what I said a few weeks ago and what I can tell him is NHS or care workers who have paid the surcharge since May 21 will be refunded and we’re getting on with instituting the new arrangements as fast as we possibly can.”

Mr Johnson also committed to looking at a proposal to increase the child element of Universal Credit, after concerns were raised by SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford.

Mr Blackford said: “An extra £20 a week in social security support would prevent millions of families from having to make the choice of paying their bills or feeding their children.

“Will the prime minister now immediately uplift the child element of Universal Credit and child tax credit by £20 per week?”

Mr Johnson responded: “This is a government that has done everything that we possibly can so far to help families in need to make sure that nobody is penalised for doing the right thing during the crisis because I know how difficult it has been.

“That’s why we up-rated Universal Credit by £1,044, benefiting, I think, four million families in this country.

“But, we are fully aware that there will be tough times ahead and we do stand by to do more where we can,” he said.

Picture: PA. The RAF Voyager which is being repainted at a cost of £900,00.