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Agence France-Presse

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced scorn and ridicule on Wednesday after the government revealed it will spend nearly a million pounds repainting his official plane the colours of the Union flag.
Leading political opponents accused Johnson of wasting taxpayers’ money on a vanity project while millions struggle through the coronavirus pandemic.
Downing Street said the RAF Voyager transport plane that British prime ministers share with members of the royal family was currently getting a makeover near Cambridge, in eastern England.
“We’re expecting the cost to be around £900,000 (US$1.1 million),” Johnson’s spokesman said.
For goodness sake. Please can we have a grown up as a Prime Minister instead of a child
Emma Hardy, Labour MP
“That incorporates the cost of creating a design that will promote the UK around the world without compromising the plane’s vital military role.”
Johnson is known to have strong views about the looks of government aircraft. He complained in 2018 that he had to share the “grey” plane with then prime minister Theresa May while he was still serving as foreign minister.
Johnson’s decision to spend public money on a paint job in the middle of the steepest economic downturn on record drew derision from members of the opposition.
UK ‘could have halved’ virus death toll if lockdown came a week earlier
“Rather than reversing the damaging policies that have pushed millions into poverty, the Prime Minister is more interested in finding money to spend on his own vanity project, a luxury VIP plane,” the Scottish National Party’s parliamentary leader Ian Blackford fumed.
“For goodness sake. Please can we have a grown up as a Prime Minister instead of a child,” the main opposition Labour Party’s Emma Hardy tweeted.
Liberal Democrats’ acting leader Ed Davey noted that the dexamethasone steroid that UK scientists showed to be an effective treatment for the most serious novel coronavirus cases only costs a few pounds a patient.

“Boris Johnson could have bought 180,000 doses of that, but instead he’s painting a flag on a plane,” Davey said.
Johnson’s spokesman said: “At every stage, we work to ensure value for money for the UK, and all of the work has been undertaken in the UK, directly benefiting British suppliers.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Johnson was involved in a minor car crash after a protester ran in front of his vehicle as it left Parliament.
Footage posted on social media showed a man running toward the silver Jaguar as it drove out of the gates of Parliament accompanied by a police motorcycle outrider and a Range Rover support vehicle.
Johnson announces body to probe inequality but vows to protect Churchill statue
Johnson’s car braked suddenly and was hit from behind by the Range Rover, sustaining a large dent. It paused for a moment before the motorcade moved on.
The prime minister’s office confirmed Johnson was in the car and said there were no reports of any injuries.
The protester was knocked to the ground in the incident, and photos showed him being detained by police.
Several groups were protesting outside Parliament in small numbers on Wednesday, including anti-Brexit and pro-Kurdish groups. Johnson was returning to his office at 10 Downing St. from his weekly question and answer session with lawmakers when the crash happened.
Additional reporting by Associated Press


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Boris Johnson wants to spend US$1.1 million to paint his plane in British colours

The grey RAF Voyager is being painted in the British union flag colours to “better represent the UK around the world with national branding”. Photo: PA via AP

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Political opponents accuse Johnson of wasting taxpayers’ money on vanity project as millions struggle through coronavirus pandemic
Johnson is known to have strong views about appearance of government aircraft



British PM is known to have strong views about appearance of government aircraft.


Boris Johnson wants to spend US$1.1 million to paint his plane in British colours

Political opponents accuse Johnson of wasting taxpayers’ money on vanity project as millions struggle through coronavirus pandemic Johnson is known to have strong views about appearance of government aircraft

Political opponents accuse Johnson of wasting taxpayers’ money on vanity project as millions struggle through coronavirus pandemic

Johnson is known to have strong views about appearance of government aircraft