DAVID Cameron faced derision and anger yesterday over his plans to get a jet to take him and his ministerial cronies on official visits around the world.

Mr Cameron’s flight of fancy would see an RAF air-to-air refuelling plane converted into a cabinet cruiser for use on long-haul trips at a cost of up to £10 million, government sources said.

Ministers claim that the A330 Voyager refurb will eventually save hundreds of thousands of pounds a year in hire costs.

But the move is likely to prove highly controversial just days before Chancellor George Osborne prepares to unveil further deep cuts in next week’s spending review.

The idea of a ministerial aircraft was first put forward by then prime minister Tony Blair, before eventually being vetoed by Gordon Brown.

At the time the PM was accused of delusions of grandeur and his presidential patterning was mockingly dubbed “Blairforce One.”

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Labour’s Chris Bryant laid into Commons Leader Chris Grayling over the decision. He said: “We want to look at the government’s travel costs when we are looking at expenditure in the light of the news the government is planning to go ahead with Call Me Dave Airways.

“I mention this because when you were shadow transport secretary you told the BBC of the idea a special jet should be set aside for the prime minister, then Mr Blair … you said ‘this was the wrong moment to be splashing out taxpayers’ money on funding the government to travel in style.’

“What on earth has changed? Is it just you have changed your job and now you’ve got a ministerial car you’ve got used to it and you want everyone else to travel in style?”

A spokesman for the People’s Assembly told the Star: “We’re told by the government there’s no money for public services or to protect the most vulnerable in society.

“But it seems money can always be found when the government really wants it; whether it’s billions for war, security or extra defence spending or £10 million on a new private jet.”

Downing Street said the plane will have around 158 seats, of which 58 will be business class. Additional business class seats are being fitted, but Mr Cameron’s spokeswoman stressed the seats chosen are the cheapest of the options considered.