Prime Minister Keir Starmer has cancelled a controversial government helicopter contract valued at £40 million.
The contract, originally established under the Conservative administration to transport senior political figures, has been scrapped by Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence under Starmer’s leadership.
As reported by The London Economic, a Labour source criticised the helicopter service as a “grossly wasteful” remnant of the previous government, describing it as “totally out of touch with the problems facing the rest of the country.”
The cancellation is seen, the source said, as part of Starmer’s broader effort to demonstrate that “things will not be business as usual” when Parliament returns.
The Labour source further condemned the Conservatives for their fiscal management, noting that this move is just one of many steps Labour is taking to address what they describe as an “unforgivable inheritance” left by the previous government.
The source emphasised that the cancellation is part of Labour’s commitment to “fix the foundations of our economy” and restore public confidence in government spending.
For more information, you can read the full article in The London Economic here.
It’s a lie though. Wallace has said that the contract was not going to be renewed, Labour has not cancelled anything.
From what I understand, Wallace didn’t want to renew it but Sunak intervened and reversed it by Grant Shapps.
Surely not, the Tory’s would never waste money on personnel gimmicks 😀
Wallace wasn’t hasn’t been in government for some time. Sunak used these helicopters like taxis as did a number of other Tory cabinate mintsers.
So it is news to post a story without listening to the other side?
What would be the other side? A millionaire PM liked to fly around the country rather than drive or take the train? The Queen used to take the train to Sandringham, literally no excuse really. Pointless expense by Rishi Rich.
Whatever opinion you have of him, the other side should be part of any news. If they don’t answer, then state that.
It is basic journalism, but since they are increasingly nothing more than “activists” that went to the profession “to change the world” i don’t expect improvement and this is another example that reinforces that.
What’s the other side? Even the last sensible Tory wanted it cancelled, it’s just the gravy train lot that wanted it. I don’t really see a side to this?
£40 million is about the annual cost of an infantry battalion. It’s not insignificant despite how the last government acted about money.
Why could Starmer not have used a MoD helicopter? Because they do not have a luxury VIP fit?
Sunak you mean? The RAF only has one A109 in 32 sqn for Comms. But in a country with a good rail network, an extensive motorway system and hotels flying politicians around in Helicopters is not necessary. Just plan more and get out of London more regularly.
Interesting. Thought 32 had 3 A109?
Not for years. It’s been a single Helicopter for most of a decade.
Good Rail system? Are you in Switzerland then? UK road and rail system is shocking but of course the distances are not large so could easily take such if they have the time it takes to get from A to B.
Still compared to other European and the US who have large VVIP fleets available whilst the RAF although have a A330 in nice UK Colours it still remains available to its main role.
I travel extensively on European Rail all the time, I’m one of those people who avoids flying short haul. The UK Rail network is great, expensive but is one of the most extensive and well run. The worst Western European train I’ve travelled on was Swiss, Milan to Geneva, awful journey. Best Railway is ABB in Austria, and their Nightjet service is by far the best way to get around Europe. SNCF in France is great if you cough up for TGV but otherwise worse than the UK and the same with DB Germany, splash out on ICE or torture… Read more »
Everything isn’t all terrible and broken in the UK
Not at all. Agreed, many things are excellent
Indeed it’s Amazing how much negativity is created by internet and 24 hour news…content creation requires bad news and when you add in china and Russian bots and political warfare it’s no wonder everyone thinks everything is broken…a few things are..but many things are better than they once were…
It’s often worse in other western countries and we moan a lot in the UK, although I spent my childhood in Holland and in Flanders and that was really nice (Dutch were great although a few of the Belgians were not)
Try getting a train in Italy..its a toss of coin if you get where you are going or staying an extra night in hotel…
Oh yes, though I’ve also had some of my most enjoyable train journeys in Italy, and certainly the staff are friendly. But punctuality 😱
What contract?
Latest news the Royal Family and government ministers will go by taxi as the trains and buses are not fast enough. But we shall see.
Would be faster by tractor and trailer 😉
But according to this mornings news he still gets free suits and glasses ,so it’s not all bad 🙄
Not to worry Starmer seems to have a lot of rich (for now) chums he can hitch a lift with.
More so than Boris and Sunak and the various Yacht holidays with Oligarchs etc
Nope they are all the same but it didn’t stop Lammy jetting of to the other side of the world in the same voyager with the union flag on that labour claimed was a total waste of taxpayers money did it! Total hypocrites the lot of them!
Exactly.
mote good news mate🙄just been listening to time radio when Starmer was asked about supporting Ukraine he sidestepped the question.! Now it seems it will NOT be good news in the SDR as apparently the treasury is after a 2.5 CUT in the budget😡
Would not surprise me one bit.
Well, if it comes I’ll be looking for all the Labour supporters here I’ve been debating with these last 7 years.
Well said Jacko
Talking of Sir Kier’s cancellations (okay, I’m going off topic), what about the cancellation of the Royal Marine General’s appointmement as National Security Advisor? Is Starmer really going to appoint a Labour grandee into an area of ignorance? The blind leading the blind. Shades of Sunak: so ignorant he doesn’t believe there’s anything he needs advising on beyond the politics.
Have there been any with current or previous military experience before?
I thought they tended to have an intelligence background, or am I making that up?
They have all been career diplomats with one exception. The last NSA but one was Stephen Lovegrove the former MOD Permanent Secretary, so still a civil servant who had no military background, but who would have been steeped in departmental minutiae for five years.
However, there also have been two deputy NSAs, one from defence and one from intelligence. In fact Gwyn Jenkins was the deputy for the defence side under Cameron (so I can’t say his advice did much good).
He could advise all he likes, politicians will just ignore.
People are lauding Lord Robertson for the 98 SDSR. An SDSR that cut, and was then never funded and who’s recommendation of 35 escorts, 10 SSN, and over 20 Sqns of fast jets left at the end of Labour’s tenure 23, 7, and 12 of those.
Now we down to 14, 5, and 9.
There is no indication for me that this time will be any different.
I want to be self deluded. I have been cynical for so long now that I think I’m due for some rose tinted spectacles. It’s all going to be good. It’s all going to be fine. The Prime Minister and the Chancellor will see the light and wave a magic wand.
Ah…. I see the 2048 Silver Anniversary Spithead review…. So pretty.
A good summary of the reality of the thing Daniele.
And of course, it was 32 escorts, not 35.
35 was the start of play.
Going off the Topic the PM has cancelled the appointment of Royal Marines General as national security adviser .Does the PM not want to hear the truth about what condition our forces are in and the reality how to try and put thing’s right .😞 🇬🇧
The RN has needed a RM 2SL for an epoch.
Blair used 2 of 32SQN helicopters to ferry Olympic officials around facilities. Its how London got 2012. If you want to wine & dine foreign VIPs for UK advantage, then a couple of VIP helicopters is a good idea.
What relevance does this have to UK defence or the UK defence industry? Why no article on the Thai Gripen purchase, which has about 30% British content?
Personally I don’t have a issue with leaders using this type of transport irrespectiveof the party they belong to. In certain circumstances they can get places faster and get more things done. There’s also a security aspect, they far less vulnerable on this type of transportation. I wonder what the economic impact of police stopping traffic is when the PM needs to travel by road. Could easily run into 10s million per year of lost productivity.