British Foreign Secretary David Cameron criticised for hiring luxury jet for Central Asia tour: Report
File photo of British Foreign Secretary David Cameron.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron faces criticism afterhe travelledin a luxury private jet for a five-day diplomatic tour around Central Asia, British media reported on Sunday (Apr 28). Foreign Secretary Cameron hired theEmbraer Lineage 1000 worth $52.6 million (around£42 million) for this tour. A report by Mirror on Sunday said that the private jet has a diningtable,andextra-longsofas,and can accommodate 19 passengers.
During the tour, Cameron made stopsin Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, with the government saying the foreign secretary wanted to increaseengagement with this pivotal region.
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Cameron'spredecessorJamesCleverlyused the sametype of aircraftduring a week-long tour of the Caribbean and Latin America last year.
The criticism: Acting like Kardashian sisters
Speaking to the Mirror, Labour MPEmily Thornberry said,"Sometimes, on a trip like this, ministers will need to use non-scheduled flights, and if thegovernment'sdedicated RAF jets are unavailable, they may have to charter a plane.That is all fine, butin no worlddo those circumstancesjustify hiring one of the most expensive, most luxurious private jets on the market to ferry the Foreign Secretaryaround Central Asia."
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Thornberry saidthatCleverlywas caughtspending around $528,000 on the sametype of jet.But instead of learning from that debacle, Cameron used it as a template, she added.
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"They are public servants, andthey'resupposed to usetaxpayers'money as carefully as possible, not swan around the world like a pair of Kardashian sisters at the Britishpublic'sexpense,"the Labour MPfurthersaid.
Foreign office reacts
A foreign office spokesperson said that a foreignsecretary'sjob (in this caseDavidCameron) requires him to travel overseas to pursue the UnitedKingdom's(UK) interests.
"This was the most time-effective way to do this in this instance.Value formoneyis takeninto account in all travel decisionsandcostsareroutinely publishedfor transparency,”the office added.
(With inputs from agencies)