Boris Johnson's 'Brexit plane' which cost the taxpayer nearly £1 million to paint has been flown abroad once in a promotional role in the last five months.
When it was announced last summer that RAF Voyager would be repainted with a Union flag on the fin Downing Street said it would be used to promote Britain on a global stage.
Analysis carried out by the i newspaper shows the plane's only flight abroad promoting the country was at the end of January when it took part in a flypast over Athens for Greek independence celebrations.
The Tory Prime Minister and the Royal Family have used the plane several times since it was given a new lick of paint.
Johnson controversially used the jet to fly from London to Cornwall for the G7 conference which concentrated on climate change.
A Number 10 spokesperson said in June 2020: “The plane can better represent the UK around the world with national branding, similar to many other leaders’ planes, while also retaining its military air-to-air refuelling capability."
The Voyager has also been used several times to refuel RAF fighter jets patrolling in the North Sea.
Recently it was spotted flying at 16,000ft for five hours off the coast of Lincolnshire.
The covid pandemic, the government says, has meant the aircraft's role has been "greatly reduced" since it has was repainted at the cost of £900,000 to the taxpayer.
The SNP's deputy Westminster leader slammed the plane, she said: "Boris Johnson has been happy to throw taxpayers’ cash at new, unnecessary jets, yachts and Union Jack paint jobs, whilst imposing austerity cuts on the rest of us."
RAF Voyager was repurposed back in 2015, however Johnson had previously questioned why the plane is grey, and said as foreign secretary that he would like to have a “Brexit plane” to help him travel the world and promote the Government’s vision of global Britain.
He complained in 2018 the RAF Voyager jet, which is shared by the Prime Minister, senior Cabinet members and the royal family, “never seems to be available”.
A UK Government spokeswoman told the i said: "The VIP Voyager is used by the Prime Minister, senior ministers and members of the Royal Family for long-haul flights.
"During the global coronavirus pandemic, the number of such flights has been greatly reduced.
"Since its livery was updated, the VIP Voyager continues to provide its primary military function of air-to-air refuelling support operations and training."
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