/// A government spokesperson said; "As part of the government's defence review, we have been looking at ways to make better use of the RAF fleet to transport senior ministers and consequently deliver savings for taxpayers. ///
No need to use RAF fleet to deliver savings to me, I will willingly pick them up myself.
This isn't new. My father was a pilot in the RAF on the Queen's flight back in the 70s. The RAF have always been used for VIP flights. My dad regularly flew Willie Whitelaw to NI when he was NI Secretary.
The cost can be massaged to make it look like a 'saving' - how true that is only the Audit Commission will eventually determine - and it will be too late by then.
I don't read it as dedicated to the PM but for use by PM, Royal Family and other senior politicians. It's just using a specific single plane rather than a selection of RAF ones. He's still going to fly whatever.
I kinda think we're being spun a line about multiple use aircraft.
Her maj & co won't be flying about in a potential bomb any time soon.
Once the seats are in and all the attendant equipment for communications, posh desks etc are all installed it will be found to be not cost effective to revert to it's original use.