No 10 has defended the use of a flight to travel to Manchester to collect Andy Burnham after the trip prompted a public backlash over its cost and necessity. Critics questioned whether the journey offered value for money, but Downing Street said the decision was made after considering a range of factors.
In a statement, officials said security arrangements, the financial implications and what they described as “operational requirements” were all taken into account when planning the trip. No 10 maintained that those considerations justified the choice of travel.
The flight drew scrutiny from opponents and members of the public who argued the use of such resources should be tightly justified. The episode adds to ongoing public attention on government spending and how travel by ministers and officials is organised and accounted for.
Downing Street reiterated that it seeks to balance security and operational needs with cost considerations when arranging official travel. The office said it would continue to assess such decisions in line with established protocols and requirements.