Originally Posted by
anc305
This may be a stupid question but why does the PM not have his own plane. I have seen many threads on FT about this subject . Being from across the pond, I cannot see the logic in chartering a plane . The UK is not some banana republic / third world country. It is in the top 5 in GDP. Please , only want a serious answer . Dont want to start a long debate on CO2 emissions , Iraq , 3rd world poverty , class warfare etc.
Thanks
anc305
Why should the PM have his own plane? He's not the head of state.
To expand on that rather flippant remark, I'm sure several PMs have wanted their own plane. But they've got to do it in such a way as to make it the Queen's plane, which they get use of, or they are perceived as trying to be Presidential - which is not a good thing over here, as we don't operate a Presidential system.
But from a taxpaying point of view, why should I have to pay for a plane, when a charter is perfectly suitable, and the only difference is that having a dedicated plane panders to politicians egos? I get no nationalistic pride out of us owning a plane - we own lots, just not any of the appropriate kind. And i suppose, borrowing a plane was less of an issue if you could borrow Concorde
