The British Ministry of Defence reportedly preferred to travel abroad in style, paying thousands of dollars to stay in Dubai, Cyprus, and the US, amid housing problems in the army and fears that the military will slide into a financial black hole, The Mirror reported.
The Ministry of Defence spent £205 million ($260 million) on trips, including hotels, meals and transport fees, in 2019, The Mirror revealed. At the same time, the Ministry of Defence is said to risk facing a £1.2 billion black hole by 2022.
The British outlet points out that the spending list includes a $6,200 six-night stay in a Dubai hotel for one of the ministry chiefs, booking 38 rooms, $380 per night each, in the Emirates as well as paying $2,800 for three nights on Cyprus for a ministry worker and guest.
The media outlet not only points out expenses for foreign trips but also expenditures at home, namely a $635 one-night stay in the British city of Birmingham, an almost $12,000 bill for 22 nights at London's five-star Royal Horseguards Hotel as well as thousands of dollars' worth of bookings in Oxford and Glasgow.
The trips to Commonwealth countries were pricey as well, as aides reportedly spent $13,000 on a month in Sydney's five-star apartments and over $1,000 for a three-night stay in Ottawa, Canada. The list of hotel bills also includes $1,000 for a 2-night-stay in Manhattan and equally expensive booking in the Norwegian capital Oslo.
Commenting on the report, the ministry noted that only…
