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No 10 Defends Stansted-Manchester Flight to Pick up PM 'en Route' to Caribbean
Downing Street said the route was chosen for security, operations and value for money, while one estimate put the extra cost at £20,000.
- On Monday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham arrived in Antigua for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting after his government flight detoured to Manchester on Friday to collect him.
- Downing Street defended the detour, citing "security, operational requirements, and value for money for the taxpayer" as factors in travel decisions, noting Burnham worked from the north on Friday.
- Critics estimated the Manchester detour cost around £20,000 more than flying directly from Stansted, prompting Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office Mike Wood MP to remark, "Labour promised a crackdown on private jet use."
- A government spokesperson rejected "speculative figures," saying "Travel costs will be published in the usual way," while Burnham separately stated he is "open" to calls for a formal British apology.
- The Foreign Office will lead an "international component of the structured dialogue" on the slave trade, though King Charles III is not expected to offer a formal apology during the summit.
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'Air Miles Andy': Burnham Slammed After His Plane To Caribbean Picks Him Up In Manchester
Andy Burnham has been criticised after his official plane had to stop off in Manchester to take him to the Caribbean.The prime minister is attending this week’s Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) summit in Antigua.He was not on board the flight when it took off from Stansted Airport in London at 6am on Monday.Instead, the plane landed in Manchester half an hour later, where it stayed for around an hour while the PM got on board.Downing Str…
·United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left4Leaning Right5Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution44% Center
Bias Distribution
- 44% of the sources are Center
44% Center
L 25%
C 44%
R 31%
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