Newly appointed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has decided to cancel a £40 Mln (52.9 Mln USD) VIP helicopter contract used extensively by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Guardian reported.
Starmer and Defense Secretary John Healey will end the contract, which expires at the end of the year and after an extension in 2023 at Sunak’s request.
Sunak frequently used the government-funded helicopters for trips to events in Southampton, Dover, the West Midlands, and Essex, even when train travel would have been almost as quick.
In 2023, a BBC investigation revealed that Sunak used RAF jets and helicopters for domestic flights more frequently than his recent predecessors. Critics have accused him of misusing resources, with a Labour source calling the helicopter service a “grossly wasteful” symbol of the government’s detachment from national issues. The source argued that ending the service reflects the government’s efforts to manage public finances better.
Labor had frequently criticized Sunak for his use of domestic flights. Last month, Conservative MP John Glen asked if the new Labor government planned to cut domestic flights taken by ministers. In response, Cabinet Office Minister Ellie Reeves stated that travel plans would be reviewed to ensure they are in the best interest of taxpayers, but did not confirm any reductions.
Former Defense Secretary Ben Wallace had reportedly decided not to renew the contract a year ago, but his successor, Grant Shapps, reinstated the contract at Sunak’s request. An advertisement for the contract’s renewal was recently replaced with a notice of withdrawal on the government website.
The British government has restarted the recruitment process for a new national security adviser. Sunak had appointed General Gwyn Jenkins to the role, replacing Sir Tim Barrow, but has now decided to cancel this appointment and reopen the search. Jenkins is still eligible to apply.