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Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal was ferried around in a chauffeur-driven car to be signed, at the cost to the taxpayer of over £900, its has been revealed.
The withdrawal agreement was taken from Brussels to London and back again by high-speed Eurostar train, with no expense spared, according to receipts uncovered by The Independent.
The Foreign Office says that the gold-plated arrangements were needed “for the safe and timely transport of the Withdrawal Agreement, in order to ensure the UK’s departure from the EU on 31 January 2020”.
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A freedom of information request found the total cost of transporting the document was £902.56, money which came out of the existing Foreign Office budget.
“The Withdrawal Agreement was transported from Brussels to London and back on 24 January 2020,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
“The text was transported by EU officials from the Council Secretariat, accompanied by one UK civil servant.
“The total UK-related cost of the associated travel – Eurostar and transport in a secure car with a security cleared driver – was £902.56 inclusive of VAT.”
Many commercial couriers, including Royal Mail, offer international next-day or same-day services for a fraction of the price.
Acting leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Yet more money thrown away for the Tories ideological Brexit experiment. But this is just the thin end of the wedge compared to all the billions drained out of the UK economy. This was the most expensive taxi ride in history.”
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Pro-Brexit supporters celebrating in Parliament Square, after the UK left the European Union on 31 January. Ending 47 years of membership
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Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o’clock at night
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Pro Brexit supporters attend the Brexit Day Celebration Party hosted by Leave Means Leave
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Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage smiles on stage
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People celebrate in Parliament Square
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A Brexit supporter celebrates during a rally in Parliament square
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JD Wetherspoon Chairman Tim Martin speaks as people wave flags
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Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen
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Brexit Party leader, Nigel Farage arrives
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Brexit supporters gather
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Ann Widdecombe speaks to pro-Brexit supporters
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Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen
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People wave British Union Jack flags as they celebrate
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Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square on Brexit day
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A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag
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A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering
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A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag
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Pro-Brexit supporters celebrating in Parliament Square, after the UK left the European Union on 31 January. Ending 47 years of membership
PA
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Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o’clock at night
AFP via Getty
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Pro Brexit supporters attend the Brexit Day Celebration Party hosted by Leave Means Leave
Getty
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Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage smiles on stage
AFP/Getty
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People celebrate in Parliament Square
Reuters
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A Brexit supporter celebrates during a rally in Parliament square
AP
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Police form a line at Parliament Square to prevent a small group of anti-Brexit protestors from going through to the main Brexit rally
PA
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Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters
PA
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PA
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JD Wetherspoon Chairman Tim Martin speaks as people wave flags
Reuters
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Getty
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Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen
AFP via Getty
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Brexit Party leader, Nigel Farage arrives
Reuters
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Brexit supporters gather
AP
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Ann Widdecombe speaks to pro-Brexit supporters
PA
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Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen
AFP via Getty
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AFP via Getty
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People wave British Union Jack flags as they celebrate
Reuters
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Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square on Brexit day
Reuters
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A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag
PA
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Getty
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AFP via Getty
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Getty
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A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering
AFP via Getty
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A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag
PA
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Getty
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An EU flag lies trampled in the mud
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The red-carpet treatment for the document was arguably better value than a similar diplomatic trip undertaken by British diplomats nearly three years earlier.
In 2017 Theresa May spent £985.50 delivering her Article 50 letter to Brussels and firing the starting gun on Brexit talks. That earlier expedition took two UK civil servants, and the letter only needed to travel in one direction.
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