Starmer Continues With "Grossly Wasteful" Helicopter Junkets..

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1981225/labour-helicopters-rishi-sunak

Is there any form of hypocrisy they won't indulge in?

what happened to "grossly wasteful"?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-helicopter-rishi-sunak-b2602220.html

[naomi24]

I read he's been on 15 jaunts abroad since he took office.

[Deskdiary]

Yes it is deeply hypocritical, but you only have to look at the freebies from cronies to know this is a party of do as I say not as I do.

 

A couple of months ago there was a thread posted by a devotee, and endorsed by another devotee, criticising Cleverley for using a jet. In that same thread it was pointed out Lammy had also used a jet, but strangely, although not surprisingly, the devotees were incredibly quiet about this, will be silent on the use of helicopters and have been silent about Starmer jetting around the world.

 

They're quick to criticise, but accepting when it's Labour. Funny that. 

[ToraToraTora]

The thing is I am not against our government using planes helicopters etc. I think they should, what gets my goat is when they slate the opposition for doing exactly what they are.

[youngmafbog]

Like TTT, I have no problem with 2TK using choppers.  I'd rather they did as I dont want to travel with a target thank you very much.

However, it the the rank hypocracy that stinks.

Still if its free then FreeGear will be there.

[nicebloke1]

The (PRIVATE) helicopter contract set up by the cons, will end THIS December, AND will not be renewed. OK

SENIOR ministers will when needed use GOVERNMENT owned vehicles such as RAF helicoptors. Like they've always done since the year dot.

NOT private. Nothing to see here. Scraping the already empty barrel. :●)

[youngmafbog]

The point is this:

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/hypocrisy

You do realise everyone laughs at you and your alter ego?

As you probably dont know what that means either:

 https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alter%20ego

 

[nicebloke1]

You can never have a comeback from the truth.

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

You're wrong, nicebloke.  The RAF helicopters are NOT at the government's disposal.  They have cancelled the Sloane contract- that's it.

In August, just a few weeks after being elected, the incoming Labour Government confirmed that they will not be renewing the long-term contract with Sloane Helicopters for the provision of a VIP helicopter for ministerial use, currently a Leonardo AW109SP. Prior to this election, Emily Thornberry MP (Member of Parliament) from the Labour party had repeatedly raised questions in the House of Commons regarding a helicopter contract. This operation provides high security transport for key government ministers, and has been outsourced to the private sector for nearly 30 years.  This week the Government confirmed that they will still use civil helicopters in 2025 and beyond. In official Government documentation, John Glen MP from the opposition Conservative party submitted the following question “To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 1248 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, whether the Prime Minister’s Office plans to use insourced armed forces’ helicopters for official travel after December 2024.“ Defence minister Maria Eagles MP responded “No. Routine helicopter transport will be sourced through the Ministerial Transport Office, not from Military helicopters.“ By rejecting the use of military helicopters for Ministers’ travel requirements leaves the very active civilian charter market with a new opportunity, the only change being the use of ad-hoc charter at a higher hourly rate than the current long-term contract pricing. As we noted in the earlier article, the feeling from our industry contacts was that Emily Thornberry MP saw this operation as providing a private helicopter for the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and overlooked the time-saving benefits of travelling by helicopter and the significantly reduced security risk by avoiding travel in ground vehicles. It is now clear that the Government accepts that helicopters do provide just such benefits.

Read more at www.helihub.com/2024/11/21/uk-government-to-continue-chartering-civil-helicopters-after-contract-end/

[ToraToraTora]

Thanks hazi but you might as well try and explain snakes and ladders to a potato.

[nicebloke1]

The private helicopter contract set up by the cons comes to an end this December. Cancelled by the labour government. :○)

[Pegasus16]

Labours shambolic behaviour exposed again.

[nicebloke1]

Cons shambolic behaviour comes to an end this December,

Contract canceled.

[New Judge]

“You can never have a comeback from the truth.”

Indeed  you can’t. So let’s have a look at the fiction vs the truth. 

First the fiction:

“SENIOR ministers will when needed use GOVERNMENT owned vehicles such as RAF helicoptors. Like they've always done since the year dot.”

And now the truth:

https://www.helihub.com/2024/11/21/uk-government-to-continue-chartering-civil-helicopters-after-contract-end/

This week the Government confirmed that they will still use civil helicopters in 2025 and beyond. 

John Glen MP from the opposition Conservative party submitted the following question: 

“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, ...whether the Prime Minister’s Office plans to use insourced armed forces’ helicopters for official travel after December 2024.“ 

Defence minister Maria Eagles MP responded “No. Routine helicopter transport will be sourced through the Ministerial Transport Office, not from Military helicopters.“ 

By rejecting the use of military helicopters for Ministers’ travel requirements leaves the very active civilian charter market with a new opportunity, the only change being the use of ad-hoc charter at a higher hourly rate than the current long-term contract pricing. [my emphasis]

As we noted in the earlier article, the feeling from our industry contacts was that Emily Thornberry MP saw this operation as providing a private helicopter for the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and overlooked the time-saving benefits of travelling by helicopter and the significantly reduced security risk by avoiding travel in ground vehicles. It is now clear that the Government accepts that helicopters do provide just such benefits. 

If you like, for a small fee, I can provide a very efficient fact-checking service so that AB readers are not regularly misled. 🤣

[New Judge]

Sorry, Hazi beat me to it. I'd broken off for elevenses. 😀