Rishi Sunak intervened to keep his ‘VIP’ helicopter rides
MoD had planned to stop renting private craft to save money for other projects
Sunday December 17 2023, 12.00am GMT,
Rishi Sunak personally intervened to stop officials scrapping a contract worth up to £40 million that provides him with “VIP” helicopter rides at the taxpayer’s expense.
The Ministry of Defence announced over the summer that it would stop renting two private helicopters
for use by the prime minister so “available funds are prioritised on key areas”.
The decision was supposed to take effect within weeks
and followed criticism of Sunak’s use of the aircraft for short-haul trips given their cost and climate impact.
The Times and
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... pters.html
18 December 2023
Rishi Sunak did not personally intervene to save the VIP RAF helicopters he uses to fly around the UK, Downing Street insisted today - despite the officer commanding their squadron saying he did.
Two choppers privately contracted for No32 (Royal) Squadron were axed in July after their use by the PM to make relatively short journeys easily made by road and rail was criticised.
But the unit's commander, Squadron Leader Tom Woods, later revealed that the decision by then defence secretary Ben Wallace had been reversed by his successor Grant Shapps 'at the request of the prime minister'.
Writing in the newsletter for RAF Northolt, where the flight is based, he described the effort put in to resurrect the service, which is also due to be extended under a five-year contract worth £40million.
However, No10 flatly denied Mr Sunak's involvement today. Asked why the PM ordered the U-turn, his official spokesman said: 'That is not a characterisation I would recognise.
Writing in the autumn-winter edition of the RAF Northolt Approach magazine, Sqn Ldr Woods said: 'On July 23 … Ben Wallace announced the termination of the Rotary Wing Command Support Air Transport capability, which would cease operating on Sep 30, 2023.
'This marked the end of an era in which the Royal Air Force and in particular No 32 (The Royal) Squadron have operated the AW109 helicopter in that role from RAF Northolt since 2006.
'However, in mid-September 2023, the new Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Grant Shapps, reversed the decision at the request of the Prime Minister.
'There was frenetic activity … to rapidly ensure all the key elements required to allow [the helicopter] to continue service were in place.'
He also suggested that when the temporary contract comes to an end there would be a tender for a new permanent one. That five-year deal was previously advertised as being worth £30million-£40million
Mr Sunak has been criticised previously for his use of RAF planes and private helicopters to travel around the UK on official and party political business when there are cheaper and less polluting alternatives.
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