Plans Abandoned For 'Blair Force One'

As expected Gordon Brown has abandoned plans to purchase two private jets that he would have used to fly himself and the Royal Family around the world it has been announced. Instead of this a single smaller aircraft will be purchased which will be used purely for UK appointments.

The plan for the two jets was originally put forward by Tony Blair in 2006 whilst in office and was projected to be at a cost of £100 million. The current decision to not go ahead with this was put in a written statement to MP's from the Department for Transport. Part of the reason for this was explained to have been due to "substantial increases in the cost of buying and operating commercial aircraft."

Following the written statement the Minister For Transport Jim Fitzpatrick said, "I am today recommending that the needs of the users of this service can best be met through procuring a small aircraft for official travel within the UK, chartered air services for longer journeys involving small parties, and a continuation of existing arrangements with UK airlines for journeys involving large parties. This approach ensures better value for money for the taxpayer whilst also minimising the environmental impact of royal and ministerial air travel, producing an estimated 10% saving on CO2 emissions." There was some debate as to the reasons behind the purchasing of the two aircraft with Norman Baker of the Liberal Democrats describing it as "simply an expensive status symbol to be paid for out of the public purse. That it has now been cancelled perhaps shows that the government is starting to reel in the worst of its excesses."

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Published by: Jon Vickery