James Cleverly has come under scrutiny for his extravagant spending on in-flight catering during official trips. According to reports, he spent a whopping £653 per person on catering alone for a one-day trip to Rwanda. This lavish spending came to a total of £165,561 for the entire trip, which was aimed at signing a deportation deal with Rishi Sunak.
The catering costs for the return flight amounted to £9,803.20 for Mr. Cleverly and his 14 officials, averaging at £653.55 per person. This information was revealed through a freedom of information request seen by the Guardian. The trip to Rwanda was made in December 2023, amidst concerns about the safety of the country following a ruling by the supreme court.
Despite the efforts put into the Rwanda trip, the Labour government overturned the Rwanda Bill within their first week in office, deeming it a waste of money. This decision came after Sir Keir Starmer criticized the bill as a “gimmick”. It is worth noting that Mr. Cleverly’s spending on in-flight catering was not limited to the Rwanda trip. He also incurred a catering bill of £22,324.50 while traveling to multiple countries including Japan, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Zealand, and Indonesia in July 2023.
On a similar note, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent £2,210 on in-flight catering for a trip to the UAE in May 2022, costing £245.55 per person. These instances of extravagant spending have raised questions about the accountability and transparency of government officials when it comes to the use of public funds.
The revelations about James Cleverly’s spending have sparked public debate and criticism. While Mr. Cleverly’s office has been approached for comment, the Home Office has declined to provide any statement on the matter. This situation highlights the importance of ensuring that public officials are held accountable for their expenses and that taxpayers’ money is used responsibly and transparently.