Brown blocks Blair's private jet plans

Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are locked in a dogfight over controversial plans to commission an £80 million airliner to be used by the Prime Minister and other senior figures, it emerged today.

The Prime Minister is said to be backing proposals by defence chiefs and the RAF for a specially adapted Airbus A-330 - inevitably dubbed Blair Force One - to replace the current ageing fleet of VC10s that are also used by the royal family.

However, Mr Brown is understood to be highly concerned about the cost of the project. In the latest twist to a long-running saga, the Chancellor believes it would be cheaper to charter commercial aircraft.

Supporters of the plans for a new aircraft cite a need for greater security in the wake of last year's terrorist attacks on Washington and New York.

They say the new jet would be fitted with the latest security systems and would be made available to Cabinet ministers and royalty. Unlike the US, most European leaders rely on commercial charters.

The row has emerged at a sensitive time, in the run-up to Mr Brown's three-year public spending review to be announced in the summer.

Whitehall departments have until Monday to submit their final proposals.