British military officials using choppers as taxis
August 21st, 2011 - 6:25 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Aug 21 (IANS) Senior military officials in Britain have been accused of using helicopters like taxis after running up bills for tens of thousands of pounds on short-haul flights.
According to a dossier obtained by Daily Mail Sunday, scores of trips were enjoyed by senior service chiefs, including the head of the army and a Royal Navy admiral.
Britain’s most senior military leaders are spending a “fortune” on chauffeur-driven cars, which in one quarter alone cost the taxpayer over 400,000 pounds, it said.
Ironically, junior defence ministers have given up the dedicated chauffeured cars used by their Labour predecessors to help reduce a 36 billion pounds black hole in the defence ministry finances.
They now share a pool cars or use public transport.
The news of lavish perks enjoyed by the top brass has outraged critics, especially when soldiers, sailors and airmen face losing their jobs following the most savage defence cuts in British history.
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Tags: black hole, british history, chauffeur driven cars, choppers, daily mail, defence cuts, defence ministers, defence ministry, haul flights, helicopters, military leaders, military officials, ministry finances, navy admiral, pool cars, predecessors, royal navy, sailors, service chiefs, top brass