Boris Johnson’s £900,000 plan to re-brand his RAF Voyager plane

The prime minister’s order to give his RAF Voyager plane a Union Jack-inspired re-branding has been called an “absurd waste” of money

Downing Street has revealed that a makeover for the military plane used by Boris Johnson and other senior politicians will cost £900,000.

The plan is reportedly to transform the RAF Voyager aircraft from grey to a Union Jack-inspired red, white and blue design on the rear of its fuselage and up the aircraft’s fin.

Two years ago on a trip to nations in South America as foreign secretary, Johnson said the Voyager, which was Theresa May’s plane at the time, was not available to him often enough, and he complained about the aircraft’s dull colour scheme.

“What I will say about the Voyager, I think it’s great, but it seems to be very difficult to get hold of.” He added:

“And also, why does it have to be grey?”

This comes after a new survey has suggested that the trust and confidence of the UK Government’s response to the pandemic have declined in the past six weeks.

The following day, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister admitted that the re-branding will cost £900,000.

He told reporters: “That incorporates the cost of creating a design that will promote the UK around the world without compromising the plane’s vital military role.”

“This will mean that the plane can better represent the UK around the world with national branding, similar to many other leaders’ planes, while also retaining its military air-to-air refuelling capability.”

“At every stage we have worked to ensure value for money for the UK taxpayer and all of the work has been undertaken in the UK, directly benefiting British suppliers.”

The spokesperson went on to confirm that RAF Voyager is already undergoing the paint job in Cambridgeshire and that the aircraft is also used often by members of the Royal Family.

He said: “The RAF Voyager used by the royal family and the PM is currently in Cambridgeshire for pre-planned repainting. This will mean that the plane can better represent the UK around the world with national branding, which will be in line with many other leaders’ planes,”.

Defence spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, Jamie Stone, has called the large amount of spending on the re-branding an “absurd waste” while “so many families are struggling to put food on the table and so many are worried about their job security is insulting”.

“The country is facing the biggest crisis in generations but Boris is concerned with the colours of his plane.”

“This government continue to astound with their posturing. It is disgraceful. They should halt these plans and use the money to help those who need it most right now instead.”

As foreign secretary in 2018, Boris Johnson said that he would like to have a “Brexit plane” to help enable him to travel around the world.

At the time he said that spending money on a new aircraft for himself, which would help to promote the government’s vision of a more global Britain, would be justified if costs were not “exorbitant”.

This news comes after the OECD has said that the UK’s economic recovery remains uncertain as most countries are vulnerable to a second wave of coronavirus infections.