Andy Burnham's taxpayer-funded jet flies from Stansted to Manchester to pick up PM

JUST IN PM's taxpayer-funded jet flies from Stansted to Manchester to pick him up 1793621413.999 Andy Burnham's taxpayer-funded jet flies from Stansted to Manchester to pick up PM before Caribbean trip The Prime Minister is heading to the Commonwealth leaders’ summit in the Caribbean Sign up to the Politics Newsletter I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News.

Email address Sign up By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules. Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us Andy Burnham's taxpayer-funded jet has flown from Stansted Airport to Manchester to pick up the Prime Minister before his trip to the Caribbean.

The jet left Stansted Airport in Essex at around 6am this morning, with Mr Burnham hopping on around half-an-hour later. Mr Burnham, who was also forced to make a stop-off in Canada for refuelling, is due to land in Antigua and Barbuda later today. It would have taken the Prime Minister around 90 minutes to make the 40-mile car journey from No10 to Stansted Airport. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say However, Mr Burnham insists on spending one day a week working in Manchester at the new No10 North site.

The Makerfield MP also spends weekends at his family home on the outskirts of Wigan. The Prime Minister came under fire earlier this year after taking the VIP Airbus A321 from Stansted to Glasgow for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. The plane left Scotland's largest city at 9.19am the following morning, landing in Manchester just 38 minutes later. Andy Burnham is using his taxpayer-funded jet to fly to the Caribbean | PA Following revelations about the Prime Minister's flight this morning, Reform UK Chief Whip Lee Anderson told GB News: "It would appear that taxpayers' money is no object for Andy Burnham.

"At a time when British people face a miserable winter of increasing energy prices, increasing inflation and increasing unemployment, this out-of-touch Prime Minister is using the taxpayer as a cash cow to fund unnecessary flights. "This is a kick in the teeth for every struggling family in the country." Shadow Minister Neil O'Brien added: "Labour are smashing normal people with higher and higher energy and fuel costs in order to pursue their obsession with net zero.

"But, as usual, it turns out the rules don't apply to them, and they are happy to waste loads of taxpayers' money and jet fuel so that the PM can show off and lecture." LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Andy Burnham's small boats total hits 10,000 as crossings surge over weekend Andy Burnham reaches grim small boat milestone as 520 cross Channel in eight dinghies Nigel Farage delivers verdict amid fears of Rupert Lowe's Tory deal: 'Vote Restore, get Labour!'

The flight arrived at Manchester earlier this morning | GB NEWS John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, also told The People's Channel: "The public are being taken for a ride by a government that seems to think money is no object. "Thanks to the Prime Minister's Manchester obsession, taxpayers are now footing the bill for what amounts to a private jet pick-up service, rather than cheaper, more sensible alternatives.

"Burnham should stop treating taxpayers' hard-earned money as an endless pot to fund unnecessary travel arrangements and start showing some respect for those who pay the bills." Ahead of his visit to the Caribbean, Mr Burnham opened the door to issuing an apology for the UK's role in the transatlantic slave trade. Writing for The Guardian this weekend, the Prime Minister said: "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."

He added: "For years, those members of the Commonwealth affected by the slave trade have asked for an honest conversation about the legacies of slavery. "By sticking our heads in the sand, we have damaged the ability of the Commonwealth to function." King Charles III walks with Equerry to His Majesty, Ben Rigby (right) before the the commemorative coin toss | PA Labour MPs have been pushing the Prime Minister to consider paying reparations to countries impacted by the slave trade, with the potential bill totalling an eyewatering £18trillion.

The UK already apologised for its role in the slave trade when Sir Tony Blair was Prime Minister in 2007. King Charles will address delegates at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting tomorrow. However, pressure is mounting on the King to take decisive action after Caribbean leaders spoke out after Mr Burnham's slavery remarks. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness admitted he was hoping for "meaningful talks on reparatory justice".

Kemi Badenoch warned the Prime Minister against paying reparations | GETTY Barbadian leader Mia Mottley also said: “I thank Prime Minister Burnham and his Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, for breaking new ground and recognising that this is the right thing, and the moral thing, to do by ensuring that we move to the next stage of engagement on this difficult and emotional issue.” However, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Labour of "navel-gazing", adding: "We should be honest about the whole history, not select the parts that are politically convenient today, especially given Britain's leading role in ending the transatlantic slave trade."

Taxpayers already cough up around £100million a year in overseas development aid to countries impacted by the slave trade. A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are committed to working with Commonwealth partners on issues facing the world, including the role of private finance in tackling global debt issues, addressing the climate crisis, and supporting economic development.” Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter Politics Labour grandee tells Andy Burnham to kickstart new 'tough love' system to tackle 'scar' on Britain Politics Small boat migrants working in Britain illegally 'can sue their bosses under Labour's new laws' as warning issued Politics John Healey shatters Ed Miliband's Net Zero dream as Chancellor takes sledgehammer to funding Politics Britain 'exposed' to economic and national security risks from Beijing as Labour accused of 'making up China policy as it goes' Live Politics Shabana Mahmood accused of watering down migrant crackdown to soothe bubbling backbench rebellion Politics Labour set to end half of council power-sharing agreements with Greens over 'Zionism is racism' policy Exclusive Politics 'So insulting!'

Small business owner HITS BACK at Labour minister who branded employers 'not working people' Politics Ex-Green Party leader issues 'hard-left takeover' warning as Zack Polanski faces pressure Exclusive Politics Andy Burnham's small boats total hits 10,000 as crossings surge over weekend Politics Labour minister sparks outrage after saying Britain's employers are 'not working people' Politics John Healey accused of planning to bludgeon Britons with £1,700 tax rises to fill '£49billion black hole' Exclusive Politics 'This is how Chagos started!'

Suella Braverman warns Andy Burnham against formal slave trade apology Politics 'Britain's future is the EU' Rachel Reeves suggests rejoining as she backs Andy Burnham 'Brexit betrayal' Politics Kemi Badenoch fumes at Andy Burnham's 'navel-gazing' after PM opens door to slavery apology Politics Labour MP apologises for hugging parliamentary staffer after bullying probe Exclusive Politics Migrant brawl breaks out on Channel boat as Shabana Mahmood's crackdown watered down AGAIN Politics Tories meet with Linton-On-Ouse residents opposing village housing 1,200 male asylum seekers: 'Unacceptable!'

Politics Andy Burnham ordered by Red Wall MPs to cut welfare spending or risk losing election to Nigel Farage's Reform UK Politics Keir Starmer stayed in Lord Alli’s luxury London flat after leaving No10 despite ‘freebie-gate’ scandal Politics Andy Burnham opens door for formal transatlantic slave trade apology Politics Ed Miliband says Russia 'will not win this war' at G20 meeting as Kremlin hits out at 'family photo diplomacy' Exclusive Politics Andy Burnham accused of gambling Britain's future with one move amid 'separatist plot to break our nation' Politics Former generals tell Andy Burnham Britain is not ready for war after Budget ‘kicked can down the road’ Exclusive Politics Andy Burnham reaches grim small boat milestone as 520 cross Channel in eight dinghies Politics Britons told to brace for a decade of pain as household income will be worst on record, IFS warns Politics Nigel Farage delivers verdict after Rupert Lowe accused of doing Tory deal: 'Vote Restore, get Labour' Politics Shabana Mahmood faces Cabinet revolt after refusing to reveal key migration information Politics Labour MP warns Andy Burnham ‘not to rip the whole country apart’ in Brexit war Politics British baked beans under threat as Andy Burnham drops tariffs on over 100 food products Politics Zia Yusuf tears into ‘war criminal’ Alastair Campbell in brutal BBC Question Time dressing down