Boris Johnson's RAF jet being painted red, white and blue at cost of £900,000

The Prime Minister previously said: "Why does it have to be grey?"
The RAF Voyager used by the Prime Minister and members of the royal family
PA
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The jet used by Boris Johnson is being repainted red, white and blue at a cost of £900,000, it has been revealed.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman confirmed that the RAF Voyager, used by the Royal Family and the PM, is in Cambridgeshire for repainting.

It is being turned from plain grey - a colour Mr Johnson has previously complained about - to featuring the Union Jack colours.

The Downing Street spokesman said the military plane will have "national branding" and added: “The RAF Voyager used by the Royal Family and the Prime Minister 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 similar to many other leader’s planes while also retaining its military air-to-air refuelling capability.”

He added: "We expect the cost to be around £900,000.”

The Prime Minister has previously said he would like a "Brexit Plane"
PA

Number 10 insisted the paint job will allow the jet to continue to participate in military work.

Defending the cost to Westminster journalists, he added: "That incorporates the cost of creating a design that will promote the UK around the world without compromising the plane's vital military role.

"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."

While foreign secretary in 2018, Mr Johnson said he would like a "Brexit plane" to help him travel the world.

He also complained about the unavailability of the aircraft, adding: "It never seems to be available. I don't know who uses it, but it never seems to be available."

He added: "Also, why does it have to be grey?"

The plane is used by Mr Johnson and other ministers, as well as members of the Royal Family.

One source said the paint job sounded like something "from Austin Powers".

Acting leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey Tweeted: "The drug dexamethasone, that can potentially save the lives of people with coronavirus, costs £5 per patient.

"Boris Johnson could have bought 180,000 doses of that, but instead he's painting a flag on a plane."

Welsh Labour MP Carolyn Harris added: "£900,000 to put a flag on the Prime Minister's plane. That could pay for 60,000 free school meal vouchers."

Her colleague Tonia Antoniazzi added: "Spending nearly a mill on painting a plane after they dragged their heels for a week of over feeding hungry kids. Give me strength."

Croydon Central Labour MP Sarah Jones asked "is this a spoof?" while the Lib Dem's Jamie Stone called it an "absurd waste" of nearly £1 million.

A spokesman for the RAF said: "An RAF Voyager is currently in Cambridgeshire for pre- planned works."

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