Blair accused of using RAF planes as private taxi service

[IndianaGreen]

Blair accused of using RAF planes as private taxi service

Sam Jones
Wednesday April 12, 2006
The Guardian

The first detailed disclosure of government air travel has revealed that Tony Blair has used RAF planes of the Queen's Flight a total of 677 times since 1997.

The figure was released by the Ministry of Defence under the Freedom of Information Act, and put the cost of the prime minister's RAF flights at £1.22m. A total of £3.06m was spent on government flights between 2002 and 2004.

Although the Conservatives were quick to accuse Mr Blair and his cabinet colleagues of exploiting the royal squadron facility, the government claimed it had been far more frugal than its Tory predecessor. "I think most people will be astonished at the way ministers seem to be using the Queen's Flight as a private taxi service," said the shadow transport secretary, Chris Grayling.

<snip>

A spokesman for No 10 dismissed the claim, saying flights were used only for government business and when they were was the most efficient way to travel; the former Tory prime ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major had used RAF flights for holiday travel - a practice Mr Blair had abandoned: "In fact, Tony Blair is the first prime minister in recent years to use commercial flights, having done so for his holidays since 2000, other than one occasion where security advice was to the contrary."

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/story/0,,1752195,00.html

[Canuckistanian]

1. Ah, but was it a "working holiday"?

I seriously believe that politicians need to have time clocks so they can punch in and punch out, like the rest of us. Holidays and personal time should be clearly delineated from work time somehow.

If it's official business, then have an auditor or comptroller approve or disapprove the expenses where necessary.

If it's deemed not necessary for official business, then deduct from the politician's pay. Period.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. A list in The Independent

Tony Blair: Uses the Queen's Flight up to 60 times a year

Royal flight bill since 1997: £1.2 million for 677 trips including family holiday to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt (cost to taxpayer - £31,000);

Holiday to Italy in August 1997 (£17,000);

Holiday to France, August 1998 (£18,000);

Holiday to Italy, August 2000 (£16,000);

Combined holiday to Italy and trip to Athens Olympics, August 2004: £18,000;

More than 30 flights to Teesside airport (to visit Sedgefield constituency) from London: £35,000

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Jack Straw: Has used the flight 27-32 times a year

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Margaret Beckett: has used the Queen's Flight 18 times (2004)

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown: uses the flight 9-12 times a year

The Queen: uses her flight 7-8 times a year

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article357237.ece

[LostinVA]

3. Tsk tsk... even Her Majesty gave up Britannica