Downing Street defends Manchester pickup on Burnham’s Caribbean summit flight

Downing Street has defended a Manchester stop by a government-chartered aircraft carrying Andy Burnham to a Commonwealth summit in Antigua and Barbuda, according to the Guardian. The plane departed Stansted with officials and pool reporters before collecting Burnham and his wife, Marie-France van Heel, in Manchester. It then continued via Canada for refuelling.

Burnham’s spokesperson said travel arrangements were determined by security and operational requirements, without explaining those considerations or providing the extra cost. Travel expenses would be published through the usual process. Conservative shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood accused Labour of applying different standards after its criticism of private aviation under Rishi Sunak.

The dispute draws on Labour’s previous scrutiny of Sunak’s domestic flights and helicopter use. The report says Labour cancelled a £40m helicopter contract after taking office and had challenged his use of an RAF jet when scheduled flights were available. It provides no quantified additional cost or emissions for the Manchester stop.