# No10 defends flight to Manchester to collect Andy Burnham

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/no10-defends-flight-to-manchester-to-collect-andy-burnham/
- Published: 2026-11-02T16:23:56+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T00:52:42+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Politics (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvglwjydgk74o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Culture, Geopolitics, Government, Politics, Travel

## Key points

- Government plane diverted to Manchester to collect Andy Burnham.
- Number 10 cited security, cost and operational needs.
- The cost of the Manchester flight is not yet known.

## Summary

Downing Street has defended sending the government’s official plane to Manchester to collect Andy Burnham for a flight to the Commonwealth summit in Antigua and Barbuda. The decision drew criticism online over possible waste of public money and fuel, while Number 10 said security, cost and operational needs were considered.

The Airbus A321neo left Stansted at about 06:00 on Monday, flew for 35 minutes to Manchester and departed for St John’s at 08:00 after waiting on the tarmac for around 90 minutes. The cost of the Manchester leg is not known, and the government’s published flight data does not yet include Burnham’s trip. For context, a London to Paris government flight in April cost £39,000, while a round trip to Armenia with 21 officials cost £121,000.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.