No 10 defends flight to Caribbean going via Manchester to pick up Burnham
Summary
A government-chartered plane travelling from Stansted to a Commonwealth summit in Antigua and Barbuda stopped in Manchester to pick up Andy Burnham and his wife. Downing Street said travel decisions were based on security and operational grounds and that costs would be published later; the stop prompted criticism over Labour’s past objections to domestic private-plane travel.Key Facts
- The plane left Stansted at about 6am on Monday, carrying officials and pool media reporters but not Burnham.
- The aircraft stopped in Manchester about 30 minutes later, stayed on the ground for an hour, then continued via Canada for refuelling.
- Burnham had been in Scotland on Friday and went to Manchester to work that evening; his family home is in Greater Manchester.
- Downing Street did not disclose the additional cost of the Manchester stop and said travel costs would be published in the usual way.
- Prime ministerial flights usually leave from Stansted, which has a section for private flights and additional security.
- Labour cancelled a £40m helicopter contract used by Rishi Sunak’s government after taking office.
- Conservative shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood criticised Labour over the flight, saying it contradicted the party’s past promises on private-plane use.
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