Row over Rishi’s choppers: Now No10 denies RAF squadron leader’s claim that Sunak intervened personally to save £40million worth of VIP helicopters he uses to travel round the UK

Rishi Sunak did not personally intervene to save the VIP RAF helicopters he uses to fly around the UK, Downing Street insisted today – despite the officer commanding their squadron saying he did. 

Two choppers privately contracted for No32 (Royal) Squadron were axed in July after their use by the PM to make relatively short journeys easily made by road and rail was criticised.

But the unit’s commander, Squadron Leader Tom Woods, later revealed that the decision by then defence secretary Ben Wallace had been reversed by his successor Grant Shapps ‘at the request of the prime minister’.

Writing in the newsletter for RAF Northolt, where the flight is based, he described the effort put in to resurrect the service, which is also due to be extended under a five-year contract worth £40million.

However, No10 flatly denied Mr Sunak’s involvement today. Asked why the PM ordered the U-turn, his official spokesman said: ‘That is not a characterisation I would recognise. 

‘The Ministry of Defence has said the agreement was extended primarily in order to provide travel for its military personnel. And as part of a long-running precedent, under successive government, ministers and members of the royal household can use that capacity for travel in fulfilment of their official duties as we have done and would continue to do.’

He added: ‘It is right that the PM is able to visit all parts of the UK and make best use of his time in order to do so. He is in Scotland today seeing troops. We think it is right he is able to travel efficiently around the country.’

Two choppers privately contracted for No32 (Royal) Squadron were axed in July after their use by the PM to make relatively short journeys easily made by road and rail was criticised.

But the unit’s commander, Squadron Leader Tom Woods, later revealed that the decision by then defence secretary Ben Wallace had been reversed by his successor Grant Shapps ‘at the request of the prime minister’.

Writing in the autumn-winter edition of the newsletter for RAF Northolt, where the flight is based, he described the effort put in to resurrect the service, which is also due to be extended under a five-year contract worth £40million.

It came as Mr Sunak flew – by plane – to visit troops at RAF Lossiemouth, near Elgin on the north east Scottish coast.

He made the annual trip to thank members of the RAF, Army and Navy who will spend time away from their families this Christmas while on duty.

It came as Mr Sunak flew – by plane – to visit troops at RAF Lossiemouth, near Elgin on the north east Scottish coast. 

He made the annual trip to thank members of the RAF, Army and Navy who will spend time away from their families this Christmas while on duty.

Emily Thornberry, the shadow attorney general, said: ‘Since October, ministers have been refusing to give straight answers to my questions in parliament about why this contract was extended, how that decision was taken, and at what cost,’ she said. ‘Now we know why.’

Writing in the autumn-winter edition of the RAF Northolt Approach magazine, Sqn Ldr Woods said: ‘On July 23 … Ben Wallace announced the termination of the Rotary Wing Command Support Air Transport capability, which would cease operating on Sep 30, 2023.

‘This marked the end of an era in which the Royal Air Force and in particular No 32 (The Royal) Squadron have operated the AW109 helicopter in that role from RAF Northolt since 2006.

‘However, in mid-September 2023, the new Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Grant Shapps, reversed the decision at the request of the Prime Minister.

‘There was frenetic activity … to rapidly ensure all the key elements required to allow [the helicopter] to continue service were in place.’

He also suggested that when the temporary contract comes to an end there would be a tender for a new permanent one. That five-year deal was previously advertised as being worth £30million-£40million

Mr Sunak has been criticised previously for his use of RAF planes and private helicopters to travel around the UK on official and party political business when there are cheaper and less polluting alternatives. 

In May he flew 70 miles from London to Southampton instead of driving or using the train.

He was previously accused of behaving like an ‘A-list celebrity’ after he used an RAF jet to fly 250 miles to northern England to promote ‘levelling up’ funding in January.

That was the third time he had used an RAF aircraft in ten days for trips within Britain.

In March, it was revealed the PM had spent more than £500,000 of taxpayers’ cash on private jets to take him on foreign trips totalling eight days.

In August it was revealed he had used RAF jets and helicopters for domestic flights once every eight days since entering No10, it has been revealed.

According to new data, the Prime Minister has boarded RAF aircraft for journeys within the UK more frequently than his three immediate predecessors.

Since he took office on 25 October and up to April this year, Mr Sunak has taken 23 domestic flights on official planes and helicopters over 187 days.

This is an average of one flight every eight days, which puts the PM ahead of Liz Truss (one flight every 12 days on average), Boris Johnson (one flight every 20 days) and Theresa May (one flight every 13 days).

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