David Cameron is to get his own version of the US President’s Air Force One with the Government planning to spend £10m refitting an RAF plane, according to a report.
The aircraft would be used by the Prime Minister, senior ministers and possibly members of the Royal Family, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Ministers claimed the plane would save up to £775,000 a year by replacing charter flights currently used for long-distance trips abroad.
A Government source told the Telegraph the aircraft would not be “luxurious”.
“This is about saving taxpayers money. There will be upfront costs but by using a refitted RAF Voyager instead of chartering private aircraft for each long-distance trip, we will save taxpayers around £775,000 a year,” the insider said.
UK news in pictures
UK news in pictures
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1/30 20 November 2015
A visitor looks at a speaker, as British artist Susan Philipsz exhibits her new installation War Damaged Musical Instruments at the Tate Britain, London, which marks the First World War Centenary
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2/30 19 November 2015
Alex (left) and Ida Lauritzson play with snow and ice sculptures at the 'Magical Ice Kingdom' in Hyde Park Winter Wonderland in London
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3/30 18 November 2015
Waves and high winds hit the sea wall and light beacon at Newhaven in south England
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4/30 17 November 2015
French Ambassador to Britain, Sylvie Bermann (L) and Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (2L) watch as Princess Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge prepares to write in the book of condolences at the French Ambassador's residence in London following attacks in Paris
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5/30 16 November 2015
The National Trust has created the UK’s largest Christmas garland at Cotehele in Cornwall this weekend. The 100ft garland took 25 people over 90 hours to make and has been created as research has found that a quarter of Brits (24 per cent) will be making homemade presents this Christmas, as the nation shuns the High Street in favour of gifts with a personal touch
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6/30 15 November 2015
The London Eye is illuminated in blue, white and red lights, resembling the colours of the French national flag, in central London, as Britons express their solidarity with France following a spate of coordinated attacks in Paris on November 13 that left more than 120 people dead
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7/30 14 November 2015
People take part in a vigil to pay tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks, at Trafalgar Square in London
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8/30 13 November 2015
Waves break in front of the South Pier on Blackpool Promenade. Abigail, the first named storm to hit Britain, whipped up winds of up to 84 miles per hour and cut power to 12,000 home according to local media reports
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9/30 12 November 2015
An honour guard of Scots Guards prepares to greet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at treasury drum in Londo. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and address a huge rally at London's Wembley Stadium during a three-day visit to Britain focused on trade and investment starting today
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10/30 11 November 2015
Pictures of fallen soldiers are seen on crosses placed in the Field of Remembrance outside Westminster Abbey in central London
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11/30 10 November 2015
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch receives the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) from Queen Elizabeth II at an Investiture Ceremony at Buckingham Palace
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12/30 9 November 2015
A woman shelters in a doorway against driving rain and high winds in Blackpool, as Britain's first ever named storm, Storm Abigail, hits the North West in Blackpool
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13/30 8 November 2015
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14/30 7 November 2015
Women enjoy themselves in the autumn foliage in central London
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15/30 6 November 2015
A staff member puts the finishing touches to the display of Christmas decorations in the Painted Hall at Chatsworth stately home near Bakewell. Various rooms in Chatsworth, the residence of Britian's Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, which is open to the public, are decorated every year for the festive season with this year's theme being scenes from The Wind in the Willows, a classic story by Kenneth Grahame
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16/30 5 November 2015
Vineyard assistant Luke Spalding prepares grape vines for pruning at Ridgeview Vineyard in Ditchling. English wine has seen a huge increase in popularity in recent years with vineyards such as Ridgeview, which supplied the wine for the state banquet for China's President Xi Jinping, seeing ever greater demand
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17/30 4 November 2015
Students shout slogans and hold banners during a demonstration to protest against cuts to grants, in London
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18/30 3 November 2015
British adventurer Sarah Outen kayaks under Tower Bridge, London, to complete her four and a half year London2London: via the World expedition, which has seen her cycle, kayak and row 25,000 miles around the world
Getty Images
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19/30 2 November 2015
One of the reindeer stars of the British festive comedy 'Get Santa', as it explores London
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20/30 1 November 2015
Vintage cars pass the Houses of Parliament in Westminster shortly after beginning the 119th "Veteran Car Run" from Hyde Park in London, to Brighton in southern England. Around 500 classic cars took part in the 60 mile journey to the south coast resort
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21/30 31 October 2015
Charlie Lines (C) reacts after New Zealand All Blacks player Sonny Bill Williams gave his gold medal after winning the Rugby World Cup 2015 Final match between New Zealand and Australia at Twickenham in London
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22/30 30 October 2015
A private jet, believed to be carrying Shaker Aamer, following his release from Guantanamo Bay, lands at Biggin Hill Airport, London. The release of the Saudi comes after a well-orchestrated publicity campaign and at the request of Prime Minister David Cameron, who had urged President Barack Obama to resolve the case of the last prisoner at Guantanamo with significant ties to Britain.
AP
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23/30 29 October 2015
A boy stops to look at floral tributes left at the gates of Cults Academy Aberdeen Scotland, a sixteen year old pupil was stabbed to death at the school yesterday.
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24/30 28 October 2015
Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has unveiled Virgin’s new ‘Flying Scotsman’ train, celebrating one of the most famous names in railway history. Virgin Trains, which runs a four-hour ‘Flying Scotsman’ express service from Edinburgh to London, has re-liveried a locomotive to promote rail travel to and from Scotland
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25/30 27 October 2015
Sally McNaught from Poppy Scotland attaches messages of support to tree sculpture which has been planted next to the Field of Remembrance in Edinburgh, to which more than a thousand messages of support written on heart-shaped cards will be attached, ahead of the opening. Poppyscotland is inviting the public to plant crosses at the Field during Poppy Week, in exchange for a donation, with the ambition of filling the Field by Armistice Day
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26/30 26 October 2015
Demonstrators from 38 Degrees walk past the Houses of Parliament holding a box with the slogan '270,000 say House of Lords: Protect tax credits' in London. The House of Lords will vote on a motion that could delay the government's plans to reduce tax credits paid to low income people
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27/30 25 October 2015
Buffalo Bills fans during the NFL game between Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills at Wembley Stadium in London
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28/30 24 October 2015
British Airways celebrates the launch of new flights to New Delhi
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29/30 23 October 2015
Luke Jerram with his art installation titled 'Harrison's Garden' featuring 1000 clocks in a room at the Thelma Hulbert Gallery in Honiton, Devon. The clocks, donated by members of the public, all have stories attached to them and will be open to the public on 30 October
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30/30 22 October 2015
Prime Minister David Cameron chats with current and former armed forces personnel after buying his remembrance poppy from Corporal Linda Noble (C-R) in Downing Street in London. The annual Royal British Legion poppy appeal is a charity that supports former and serving members of the British armed forces and launches every year ahead of Remembrance Day
When he was Prime Minister, Tony Blair had planned to buy two private jets at a cost of about £100m, but “Blair Force One” was scrapped by Gordon Brown.
The British Prime Minister is the only leader of a G20 nation who does not have an aircraft. The US President’s Air Force One cost £200m.
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- Prime Minister David Cameron
- British Royal Family
