Boris Johnson's 'Brexit jet' flown just once in five months

An RAF plane dubbed Boris Johnson’s “Brexit jet” after being repainted with a £900,000 Union Jack has been flown abroad in its promotional role only once in the past five months.

When the VIP Voyager “Vespina” aircraft was repainted in “national branding” last summer, officials said it would be used promote the UK around the world while carrying senior royals and ministers on diplomatic and trade missions.

But analysis of available flight tracking data suggests the aircraft’s only role in promoting the UK since the end of January has been to take part in a flypast over Athens watched by Prince Charles to mark the bicentenary of Greek independence.

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When UK trade secretary Liz Truss landed in Washington earlier this week for trade talks with the US – potentially the UK Government’s biggest foreign deal since Brexit – she tweeted a picture of herself in front of another RAF aircraft painted in military grey.

The RAF Voyager used by the Prime Minister and the royal family on the runway at Cambridge airport where it has been repainted in the colours of the Union flag at a cost of almost £1 million. Picture: PAThe RAF Voyager used by the Prime Minister and the royal family on the runway at Cambridge airport where it has been repainted in the colours of the Union flag at a cost of almost £1 million. Picture: PA
The RAF Voyager used by the Prime Minister and the royal family on the runway at Cambridge airport where it has been repainted in the colours of the Union flag at a cost of almost £1 million. Picture: PA

The Voyager’s main use has been to refuel RAF fighter planes patrolling the North Sea, where it has been making sorties every few days and could be seen as recently as yesterday at 16,000ft off the coast of Lincolnshire during a five-hour flight. Earlier this month, it joined other RAF planes on a NATO exercise in Europe.

Andy Netherwood, a former military transport pilot and defence commentator, said the Voyager had been “rarely used” in its VIP role recently.

He said: “The £900,000 livery means it wouldn’t be usable on operations requiring an inconspicuous paint scheme. Its usefulness as a troop carrier is also reduced as its economy seats were replaced with fewer business class seats in the front two cabins.”

The UK Government says the coronavirus pandemic has meant the plane’s VIP role has been “greatly reduced”. It could not be verified whether two flights in January, to Athens in Greece and Gander in Canada, were RAF operations.

But a second jet, a chartered Airbus A321 emblazoned with a Union Jack, has been on frequent visits abroad this year including trips by foreign secretary Dominic Raab to Singapore, Phnom Penh, Hanoi, Brunei, Jakarta and Tel Aviv.

The SNP has criticised the cost of the RAF plane’s repainting as a “Tory red, white and blue vanity project” and a “waste of public money”.

SNP deputy Westminster leader Kirsten Oswald said: “Boris Johnson has been happy to throw taxpayers’ cash at new, unnecessary jets, yachts and Union Jack paint jobs, whilst imposing austerity cuts on the rest of us.”

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The Liberal Democrats' deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: "Boris Johnson's ability to waste taxpayer's money truly knows no bounds."

She said: "Wasting money on painting planes while refusing to feed hungry children or properly pay hard-working nurses is just another reminder that this failing PM will always put propaganda over people."

The government says the repainting means the plane can “better represent” the UK around the world with national branding similar to many other leaders’ planes.

A government spokeswoman said: “The VIP Voyager is used by the Prime Minister, senior ministers and members of the Royal family for long-haul flights. During the global coronavirus pandemic, the number of such flights has been greatly reduced.

“Since its livery was updated, the VIP Voyager continues to provide its primary military function of air-to-air refuelling support operations and training.”

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