Bureau Recommends: Taxpayers to fund latest trip for ‘Air Miles Andy’
Duke of York gives up Trade Envoy role, but not the jetsetting.
An expensive trip to the Far East by the Duke of York is to be footed by taxpayers just three months after he resigned from his role as British trade envoy, the Telegraph has revealed.
The Duke and two aides made the 7,000 mile trip to Singapore for talks aimed at boosting Britain’s trade and investment relations with the country.
Taxpayers will pick up the cost of the bill with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) paying for ‘accommodation, expenses and any in-country travel’.
The revelations come just three days after the Duke claimed £150,000 of taxpayer cash for a ‘trade mission’ to Saudi Arabia via private jet.
Nicknamed ‘Air Miles Andy’, the Duke has faced previous criticism for his jetsetting business trips.
Records show that he has visited Singapore every year since at least 2007.
The Duke stepped down from his role as Trade Envoy two months ago following media criticism over his allegedly lavish jaunts and his friendship with convicted under-age sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
