PM's plane diverted to Manchester to collect Burnham for Caribbean trip

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 14:46 · Archive

The Prime Minister's plane diverted to Manchester to pick up Andy Burnham before flying to a Commonwealth summit in the Caribbean.

The Prime Minister's plane diverted to Manchester to collect Andy Burnham and his wife before flying to a Commonwealth summit in Antigua and Barbuda. The aircraft took off from Stansted at around 6am on Monday carrying senior officials and media, but Burnham was not on board. It collected him from Manchester about 30 minutes later, where it remained grounded for an hour before departing via Canada for a refuelling stop.

Downing Street said security, operational reasons and value for money for the taxpayer guided the decision. A No 10 spokesman said the Prime Minister's travel arrangements reflect where he was carrying out government business, noting he spent Friday in Scotland before returning to Manchester to work from Number 10 North that evening. Burnham's spokesperson said decisions on travel are made on security and operational grounds, and that travel costs will be published in the usual way. Downing Street would not be drawn on suggestions the Manchester detour cost around £20,000 more than flying straight from Stansted.

The Guardian reports the diversion was more financially and environmentally costly than if the Prime Minister had travelled to London. It leaves Burnham open to accusations of hypocrisy, the paper states, after Labour repeatedly criticised Rishi Sunak for his use of private planes and helicopters for domestic travel when he was Prime Minister.

How it is being reported

• Burnham accused of using Government jet 'like an Uber' after flight from London to Caribbean diverts to pick him up in ManchesterThe Government plane took off from London Stansted at around 6am, bound for Antigua where Andy Burnham is due to attend a Commonwealth summit.Daily Mail · 2 Nov, 16:11
• 'Air Miles Andy': Burnham Slammed After His Plane To Caribbean Picks Him Up In ManchesterAndy 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 Street defended the detour, claiming that Burnham’s travel arrangements are determined “on the basis of security, operational requirements and value…HuffPost UK · 2 Nov, 15:13
• No 10 defends flight to Caribbean going via Manchester to pick up BurnhamCritics decry ‘Air Miles Andy’ after plane that took off from Stansted diverted to collect prime minister and wife A government-chartered plane taking Andy Burnham to a Commonwealth summit in the Caribbean made a stop-off in Manchester to collect him Downing Street has said. The decision, which will have been more financially and environmentally costly than if the prime minister had travelled to London, leaves him open to accusations of hypocrisy after Labour repeatedly criticised Rishi Sunak for his use of private planes and helicopters for domestic travel when he was PM. Continue reading...Guardian World · 2 Nov, 14:24
• No 10 defends flight to pick up Burnham en route to Commonwealth summitThe Prime Minister’s plane took off from Stansted carrying No 10 officials and flew to Manchester to collect Andy Burnham.Evening Standard · 2 Nov, 14:07

In this story: Andy Burnham · Rishi Sunak · Downing Street · Manchester · Stansted · Antigua and Barbuda

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log