No 10 defends flight route to collect Burnham for Commonwealth summit

Politics · First reported 2 Nov, 13:49 · Updated 14:49

Image: Wikimedia Commons · NASA Johnson Space Center / Jonny Kim · Public domain

The government said security, operational needs and value for money informed the Prime Minister’s flight arrangements, after the plane flew from Stansted to Manchester to collect Andy Burnham. Downing Street did not comment on a reported estimate of an additional £20,000, saying travel costs would be published in the usual way.

The plane left Stansted carrying officials, then stopped in Manchester to collect Burnham and his wife before continuing towards Antigua and Barbuda via Canada.
No 10 cited security, operational requirements and value for money; it declined to comment on a £20,000 estimate and said costs would be published later.
Burnham said he was open to listening to calls for a formal apology for the slave trade, while rejecting financial compensation; the government said it would pursue structured dialogue.

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Key facts

Departure: The plane left Stansted at around 6am.
Manchester stop: Burnham and his wife were collected there; the plane was grounded for around an hour.
Route: The flight continued via Canada for refuelling before heading to Antigua and Barbuda.
Cost estimate: A £20,000 estimate for the Stansted-Manchester leg was attributed to the Guido Fawkes website; No 10 declined to comment on speculative figures.
Apology position: Burnham said he was open to listening to calls for a formal apology and rejected financial compensation.