Rishi Sunak and the ministers got heavy criticism from the new Labour government for an extravagant method of travel, using a private helicopter to transport the former prime minister and ministers.
How Much Did the Helicopter Cost?
The Helicopter contract cost £40 million, a cost that Labour was not willing to incur.
Symbolic Cancellation of Helicopter
Sir Keir Starmer says this cancellation will undo “14 years of rot”, an ongoing theme among opposition parties and pundits.
When Was the Contract Last Extended?
Rishi Sunak last insistently extended the helicopter contract at the end of 2023. Keir Starmer and Jon Cleverly have not renewed it.
Were There Any Other Travel Options?
Ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak traveled on several occasions by helicopter when train travel would have been cheaper and almost as quick to the end destination. Such events that were hosted in Dover, West Midlands, Essex, and Southampton.
Is Labour Starting Anew After 14 Years of Conservatives?
Healey decided not to renew the helicopter transport contract to get a fresh break from the previous Conservative Government. An ongoing theme of the Labour government and something they want to make very clear to the public.
What Are Starmer’s Aims?
Starner is speaking in front of 50 people from around the country in the Downing Street gardens and is expected to reiterate his promise to end “14 years of rot and a decade of decline.”
Conservative Legacy
His speech audience consisted of ordinary, everyday professionals such as nurses and teachers. He is expected to draw a clear dividing line between the previous Government and his administration, highlighting how he will be different from the Boris Johnson era when he hosted parties in the gardens of Downing Street during the lockdown.
Business Is Not as Usual
As parliament returns, Keir Starmer will say, “Next week, parliament will return. The business of politics will resume, but it will not be business as usual.”.
Things Being Done Differently
Also, I added: “Because we can’t go on like this anymore. No more politics of performance, papering over the cracks, or division and distraction. Things are being done differently now.”
Starmer Attacking Boris Johnson
Starmer will say about the former PM Boris Johnson: “I wanted to invite you here today to show that the decent, hard-working people who make up the backbone of this country belong here and that this Government is for you. A garden and a building that were once used for lockdown-breaking parties are now back in your service.”
Highlighting Differences With the Conservatives
The cancellation of helicopter transport highlights the difference between Starmer and Sunak. The Speech in the Downing Street gardens is to show the difference with Borris Johnson.
Who Else Used the Helicopter?
Grant Chapps, a member of the previous Conservative Government, used the helicopter three times in six weeks earlier in 2024. Labour named it “Britain’s most expensive Uber,” showing how much money was said to have been wasted under the previous Conservative Government.
Were the Conservatives Out of Touch?
“The Tories’ VIP helicopter service became a symbol of their government: grossly wasteful, head in the clouds, and totally out of touch with the problems facing the rest of the country.” a Labour member said.
What Were Rishi’s Priorities?.
The Labour Source Added: “It tells you everything that, on top of the £22bn black hole that the Tories were blowing in the public finances, Rishi Sunak’s priority was keeping his VIP helicopter service.”
Why Is Labour Focusing on the Previous Government?
PM Keir Starmer wants to keep the spotlight on the previous Tory Government, partly to highlight what they call a mess they inherited and shift the attention away from the cuts they must make to balance the books. Some of these, like the winter fuel payment cut, are deeply unpopular.
Why Are Cuts Necessary?
Rachel Reeves says cuts, such as the winter fuel payment cut, are required due to the £22 billion black hole the previous Tory government left. The Conservatives dispute this.
What Does the Labour Party Think?
Wanderscot
The winter fuel payment cut and the two-child cap have caused much controversy in the Labour ranks, prompting some backbenchers to speak out publicly against their Government.
Any Further Pain to Come?
Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden said winter fuel payment cuts and the two-child cap policy “won’t be the last tough decisions that we have to make in government.”
No 10 Pass Scandal
Keir Starmer is under quite a bit of pressure regarding who authorized a Downing Street pass for donor Eaheed Alli and who hosted an event in the gardens with other Labour donors present.
What Else Has Gone Wrong for Labour?
The Government was also heavily criticized for Ian Corfield’s appointment as a director at the Treasury. His status as a Labour Donor sparked the controversy. He has since been downgraded to an unpaid adviser. All of these scandals chipping away at the message Labour want to portray to the wider public.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Altopix.