GORDON BROWN is blocking Downing Street’s efforts to buy a new aircraft, nicknamed “Blair Force One”, which would be used on the prime minister’s official trips.

The chancellor made clear at a meeting last week that there would be no new funds to buy the jet and two other aircraft for ministers.

Despite support for the plan from the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence (MoD), Brown is arguing that at a time when public funds are tight, there are bigger priorities than “prestige” prime ministerial travel.

If Tony Blair were to get such an aircraft, likely to be a jet with up to 40 seats, it would put him on a par with leaders such as the US president, who has two Air Force One jumbo jets at his disposal. Blair’s plane would be kitted out with beds and sophisticated communications equipment.

A Treasury insider said: “Gordon has thrown a spanner in the works and rejected plans to spend additional money. He has made clear that if this plan is to go ahead, the MoD will have to fund it out of its own budget, which is very tight. We should be proud that we are the only G8 country not to have a dedicated plane for politicians.”

The row comes after Brown was presented with a report, commissioned by Downing Street, on upgrading the fleet of MoD aircraft that are provided for the royal family but shared with ministers.

Brown argues that it should be the security of the Queen “and not the prestige of ministers” that should be decisive.

Last week Brown met Sir Peter Gershon, the government’s efficiency adviser, whose report recommends that three new aircraft be put at the disposal of ministers and the royal family. Ministers currently borrow aircraft from 32 Squadron, known as the Queen’s Flight. But the ageing fleet is unable to fly long distances. No 10 has often had to charter commercial jets for long-haul flights, spending £800,000 on overseas travel in the past year.

Gershon recommends that Blair and ministers should get their own fleet. This would be “cost neutral” to the taxpayer although it would require a large initial expenditure.

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