British Foreign Minister David Cameron has come under criticism for chartering a luxurious plane for a tour of Central Asia. The Mirror reported that Cameron rented a plane described as "one of the best luxury private jets money can buy" for a five-day diplomatic trip across Central Asia.
The Embraer Lineage 1000 features its own dining table where meals can be served, a separate lounge area with elongated sofas. The plane offers services of a personal sommelier to assist passengers in selecting wines on board, as well as a menu "for the most discerning passengers."
Labour's Emily Thornberry stated, "Sometimes in such trips, ministers have to use irregular flights, and if the government's RAF planes are not available, they have to charter a plane. All this is fine, but under no circumstances does it justify hiring one of the most expensive, luxurious private jets on the market to transport the Foreign Minister across Central Asia. This is unacceptable extravagance."
A representative of the country's Foreign Ministry stated that the head of the department's work requires overseas trips to advance the interests of Britain. "In this case, it was the most time-efficient way. When making all decisions about trips, the balance between price and quality is taken into account, and expenses are regularly disclosed to ensure transparency," the statement read.
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