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Liz Truss, the UK’s foreign secretary, on Thursday defended the use of a private government plane to fly to Australia after she was accused of squandering “dirty money” on government funds.
The cabinet minister, who met with Australian officials last week, said the government plane had been found “exactly for government ministers to fly”.
The Foreign Office, Commonwealth & Development Office said the use of the aircraft was within the rules of the ministry. However, it will not disclose the cost of the trip. The flight is rented by the government and each flight is paid for individually.
Speaking on a trip to Northern Ireland, Truss said: “I used a government plane – that’s why we have a government plane: to help government ministers do business in the state, and that’s what I left for Australia.”
Asked if the flight would be appropriate, he replied: “Every decision of the government is based on cost.
“We have a government plane especially for ministers, like me as foreign secretary, to go and work abroad, which benefits the British people.”
Authorities say the use of the aircraft prompted representatives of the prime minister and security forces to travel together to discuss security issues.
He also said that commercial flights were fully secured and that a state-owned aircraft gave Truss the opportunity to return to London in the event of an emergency.
Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the Labor Party, said the plane showed “exactly how the Conservative government has less respect for taxpayers’ money”.
Rayner adds: “It is disgraceful that government ministers fly airplanes but raise taxes and refuse to do anything to help working families when they face inflation.
“People are wasting public money on waste and their comfort. Labor wants to see families see a reduction in electricity costs, that’s the difference.”
According to ministerial rules, ministers are allowed to travel on unplanned flights “when scheduled work is not available, or if it is necessary to travel by air, but business or parliamentary requirements or security considerations prevent the trip from being organized by the organized service”.
The Foreign Office said: “It is important for the foreign secretary to travel to other countries to comply with the UK’s requirements for security, trade and technology, as he did during the trip to Australia.
“Such a move enables ministers to discuss confidentiality and flexibility in response to the rapidly changing globalization.
“The tour used state transport and was law abiding.”
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