Burnham accused of using Government jet 'like an Uber' after flight from London to Caribbean diverts to pick him up in Manchester

Published: 11:08 EDT, 2 November 2026 | Updated: 11:11 EDT, 2 November 2026 Andy Burnham has been accused of treating a Government jet like an Uber after it was diverted to collect him from Manchester.The official plane took off from London Stansted at around 6am, bound for Antigua where the PM is due to attend a Commonwealth summit.But Mr Burnham was not on board - only joining half-an-hour later with wife Marie-France van Heel when it landed at Manchester. The plane was grounded for around an hour before setting off again via Canada for a refuelling stop.The Tories condemned the cost of the diversion, accusing Mr Burnham - who was Manchester Mayor and still has his family home in the area - of hypocrisy.The premier has been making great play of his 'No10 North' base as a symbol of his devolution drive, spending part of the week there and dragging officials in for meetings. Andy Burnham and wife Marie-France, pictured boarding a Government plane bound for the US in September Downing Street insisted the arrangements made sense because Mr Burnham was in Scotland last week and then went to No10 North on FridayDowning Street insisted the arrangements made sense because Mr Burnham was in Scotland last week and then went to No10 North on Friday.They refused to respond to claims that the flight plan could have cost the taxpayer an extra £20,000. 'The PM's travel arrangements are made on the basis of security, operational requirements, and value for money for the taxpayer,' the spokesman said.'The Prime Minister's travel arrangements reflect where he was carrying out official government business at the end of last week.'As you know, he spent the day in Scotland on Friday, returned to Manchester to work from Number 10 North on Friday evening. In terms of costs, travel costs will be published in the usual way.'But Tory frontbencher Neil O'Brien said: 'YOU have to pay through the nose for energy and fuel to pursue their Net Zero obsession. 'LABOUR get to waste taxpayers' money and jet fuel so they can posture.'Mr O'Brien added: 'He lectures and imposes massive green taxes on the rest of us but then uses a massive jet as the world's most expensive Uber.'