RAF Voyager takes to the skies after red, white and blue makeover

A plane used to transport the Prime Minister and the royal family has returned to the skies after its red, white and blue makeover costing almost £1 million.

The once-grey RAF Voyager has been resprayed in white, with a Union flag on the tailfin and United Kingdom written in gold on the fuselage.

Boris Johnson had previously complained about the military paint scheme used on the jet.

Following the plane’s return to its base at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire this week, the military has released images showing Voyager back in the skies operating in its “primary role” of acting as a “petrol station in the sky” by offering air-to-air refuelling.

As well as being a serving military plane, Voyager is used to transport the Prime Minister and members of the royal family to engagements abroad.

The cost of the respray, undertaken at an airport in Cambridgeshire, was condemned by opposition politicians when it was revealed earlier this month.

The SNP lambasted it as an “utterly unacceptable use of public funds”.

Downing Street, which confirmed the work would cost “around £900,000”, said the new colour scheme meant the plane could better represent the UK around the world with “national branding”.

“At every stage we have worked to ensure value for money for the UK taxpayer and all of the work has been undertaken in the UK, directly benefiting British suppliers.”

Mr Johnson has previously questioned why the plane was grey, saying he would like to have a “Brexit plane” to help him travel the world and promote the Government’s vision of global Britain.

He also complained in 2018 while foreign secretary that the RAF Voyager jet, which is shared by the Prime Minister, senior Cabinet members and the royal family, “never seems to be available”.