No 10 defends government plane's Manchester stop to pick up Burnham

Downing Street has defended sending the government plane to Manchester to collect Andy Burnham before the Commonwealth summit in Antigua and Barbuda.

• The A321neo left Stansted at 06:00 Monday without Burnham, landed in Manchester to pick him up, then departed for the summit.
• Downing Street said the route reflected where Burnham carried out official business, citing security, cost and operational requirements.
• Conservative MP Neil O'Brien accused Labour of wasting taxpayers' money and jet fuel "so they can posture."
• Shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood said Labour's travel contradicted its promised crackdown on private jet use.