Burnham blasted for treating private jet ‘like Uber’ to pick him up from Manchester on way to Antigua summit

58 comments 58 Next ANDY Burnham stands accused of treating a government jet like an Uber – after getting it to pick him up from Manchester. The plane left Stansted shortly after 6am before heading up north for the Prime Minister to get on the plane around thirty minutes later. 4 Andy Burnham was picked up in Manchester on the war to the Commonwealth summit in the Caribbean Credit: Getty 4 King Charles will deliver his address to Commonwealth leaders on Tuesday Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Advertisement The jet is due to then make a scheduled stop-off in Canada to refuel before heading to Antigua for the Commonwealth summit.

He is likely to fly into a major row with fellow leaders on reparations after saying he was open to making a formal apology for slavery. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. But Shadow Cabinet Minister Neil O’Brien raged: “YOU have to pay through the nose for energy and fuel to pursue their Net Zero obsession.

He added: “LABOUR get to waste taxpayers money and jet fuel so they can posture.” read more on politics SORRY ROW Burnham piling pressure on King, Kemi blasts - after PM 'open' to slavery apology THE SUN ON SUNDAY SAYS Forget slavery apology, PM needs an honest talk about UK's economy 4 Senior Tory MP Neil O’Brien has hit out at the plane pick-up in Manchester Credit: Alamy 4 Andy Burnham has often worked from Number 10 North since entering office Credit: Getty Mr O’Brien added: “He lectures and imposes massive green taxes on the rest of us but then uses a massive jet as the world’s most expensive Uber .”

Shadow Minister Mike Wood said: “Labour promised a crackdown on private jet use. Advertisement “Yet when it comes to Air Miles Andy, it seems to be one rule for him and another for everyone else.” John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Costs should be kept to a minimum for the PM’s flights. Most read in The Sun RED REVOLT Shabana Mahmood forced into humiliating climbdown on her immigration crackdown MIRACLE RESCUE Five people rescued three MONTHS after tiny boat blown off course in Pacific TRAIN PROBE Woman 'sexually assaulted on train' in broad daylight as cops release CCTV 'F*** HER UP' 'Hated' mushroom killer Erin Patterson faces torment ‘day & night’ by inmates “What’s worse is eco-obsessed politicians putting up taxes on holiday makers one minute, while taking a private plane the next.

“The British PM is of course entitled to fly overseas, but shouldn’t make it harder for families to do the same.” A drive from Downing Street to Stansted airport would take around 90 minutes. Advertisement A peak train journey from Manchester to London to get on the plane this morning would have been a fraction of the price. Mr Burnham has spoken of spending more time up north and has even set up Number 10 North which is a unit of the PM’s office.

Back in 2023, then shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves vowed a “crackdown on Tory ministers’ private jet habit”. Labour revealed the total cost of non-scheduled flights for those at the top of government was almost £5 million in 2022/23. Liz Truss used the same A321 plane to travel to Australia which Angela Rayner called a “ridiculous waste of half a million pounds on a private jet trip”. Advertisement Mr Burnham will land in St John’s later on Monday before attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

He said he was open to calls for a formal British apology for its role in the slave trade. He expressed his “sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of so many millions”. However, he rejected calls for financial compensation. He wrote in The Guardian: “We are offering a structured dialogue with those affected by the transatlantic slave trade. Advertisement “Listening to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state will form an important part of this process and I am open to them.”

The King arrived in the Caribbean nation on Friday and will give his opening address tomorrow. The PM’s Official Spokesman said: “The Prime Minister’s travel arrangements are made on the basis of security, operational requirements, and value for money for the taxpayer. “The Prime Minister’s travel arrangements reflect where he was carrying out official government business at the end of last week. RECOMMENDED STORIES “As you know, he spent the day in Scotland on Friday.

He returned to Manchester to work from Number 10 North on Friday evening. In terms of costs, travel costs will be published in the usual way.” Advertisement He added: “Decisions related to travel are made on security and operational grounds, neither of which we comment on. We’re transparent about travel costs; they’ll be published in the usual way.” 58 comments 58