Gordon Brown has scrapped plans to buy two private jets to carry himself and the royal family around the world, it was revealed yesterday.
Instead, the government is scaling back proposals made by former premier Tony Blair, which were expected to cost taxpayers £100m, and will buy only a small plane for trips around the UK.
The decision to abandon plans for the jets - nicknamed Blair Force One after the US presidential Air Force One - was disclosed in a written statement to MPs by the Department for Transport. Westminster Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said the department had worked closely with the Royal Household, No 10 and the Foreign Office.
He said: "I am today recommending that the needs of the users of this service can best be met through procuring a small aircraft for official travel within the UK, chartered air services for longer journeys involving small parties, and a continuation of existing arrangements with UK airlines for journeys involving large parties.
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