Tony Blair and the Queen are to have two dedicated aircraft to fly them on official visits at a cost of £12.3 million-a-year, Downing Street announced last night.

Although the aircraft were immediately dubbed "Blairforce One and Two", Government sources insisted that Mr Blair's likely successor, Gordon Brown, was expected to be the main beneficiary - fuelling the growing impression that Mr Blair will stand down by the end of next year.

Downing Street pre-empted a report to be published next week by Sir Peter Gershon, who had been asked to review the costs of ministerial travel.

He has recommended that the Government should lease a long-haul plane - possibly a Boeing 737 or an Airbus A330 - capable of seating between 85 and 215 passengers and a smaller executive jet for shorter flights.

Full Story