Andy Burnham and his wife Marie-France van Heel wave at the top of the steps by the plane door on the UK government's official jet, with a Union Jack on the door.Image source, Getty Images
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Andy Burnham and his wife took the plane to the United Nations in the US in September

ByEwan SomervillePolitical reporter
  • Published54 minutes ago

Downing Street has defended sending the official UK government plane to Manchester to pick up Andy Burnham, rather than the prime minister travelling to London in advance of the flight.

The Airbus A321neo departed London Stansted Airport for Saint John's, the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, at about 06:00 on Monday without the prime minister on board.