In response to a Parliamentary question from John Glen, Conservative MP for Salisbury, the Ministry of Defence clarified that military helicopters will not be used for routine Prime Ministerial transport.
Glen asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the Prime Minister’s Office planned to utilise insourced Armed Forces helicopters for official travel, referencing a previous answer on the matter provided in September.
Maria Eagle, Minister of State for Defence, responded “No. Routine helicopter transport will be sourced through the Ministerial Transport Office, not from Military helicopters.”
The clarification reinforces the separation of routine ministerial travel from military resources, ensuring that operational capacity and military readiness are prioritised for defence purposes.
The use of military helicopters for non-operational duties has previously been a topic of debate concerning resource allocation and efficiency. This decision comes amid ongoing scrutiny over the use of government and military assets for official travel, as MPs continue to seek assurances about the efficient and appropriate allocation of public resources.
A previous example
Under the previous government, then Home Secretary Suella Braverman faced criticism for taking a Chinook helicopter for a 20-mile journey to the Manston immigration centre. The trip, which cost £3,500 per hour according to the UK Defence Journal, drew backlash for its perceived extravagance. Downing Street defended the decision at the time, explaining that the military aircraft was used to view operations at sea.
The visit occurred during a period of severe overcrowding at Manston, which housed 4,000 asylum seekers despite being designed for 1,600, with reports of people sleeping on cardboard due to insufficient beds.
Braverman’s journey, which would have taken 40 minutes by car, added to growing public criticism of the government’s handling of immigration centres. Earlier that day, she had visited Dover’s Western Jet Foil site, which had recently been targeted in a firebomb attack, and met with local coastguard teams before flying to Manston.
The decision to use a costly military resource for a short journey was widely questioned, highlighting frustrations over resource allocation amid mounting pressures on the immigration system.
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Lol, so nobody uses to A109 to fly about and the brass don’t use ‘training’ flights that are convienitently flying it the right direction…………..
Starmer did everything he could to call out Rishi Sunak for the helicopter that flew him to and from engagements. Personally, I cannot see what’s wrong with the Prime Minister using a helicopter to get around to official duties. It must be cheaper than the cavalcade that’s used to protect him when using the road network (minimum of three Ranger Rovers, (one upgraded armoured) four/six police outriders and a minimum of two marked police cars, plus at least one ARV stationed along the route as the PM’s vehicles move through the county and Box having to check whispers on the route of travel. Flying him in/out on a suitable helicopter must be cheaper.
Absolutely. Frankly ministers should just let the civil service know where they need to go and keep out of the arrangements. It should be for their security detail to decide how they get there safely. If the military is needed then so be it.
Agreed.
Even the Foreign Secretary was not allowed to use a Voyager and it was suggested they should go on a commercial flight.
But that was part of the endless mud slinging from Labour who will no doubt do exactly the same, and quite rightly!
If a minister needs the security, comms suite, space, and flexibility of an official aircraft they should have one.
And that goes for 3 and 4 star ranks too.
It’s called the politics of envy. Labour will do exactly the same, now they’re in office.
Well two tier doesn’t need a helicopter he is to busy using the voyager he lambasted boris for being a waste of taxpayers money🙄
My previous comment seems to have been eaten!
Using a Chinook for a small group of people is indeed mad. But does 32 Squadron still have a helo for VIP use?
Just the one I understand.
Manston in 40 minutes from London? Not in a car!