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Earlier this month, the Prime Minister announced plans to spend the staggering amount for the new revamp of the plane after heavily criticising the grey colour. But his announcement was met with anger after many pointed out the money could be spent on “60,000 free school meal vouchers”.

At the time the amount was revealed, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “That incorporates the cost of creating a design that will promote the UK around the world without compromising the plane’s vital military role.

“At every stage we have worked to ensure value for money for the UK taxpayer and all of the work has been undertaken in the UK, directly benefiting British suppliers.

“That incorporates the cost of creating a design that will promote the UK around the world without compromising the plane’s vital military role.

“At every stage we have worked to ensure value for money for the UK taxpayer and all of the work has been undertaken in the UK, directly benefiting British suppliers.”

This week, the plane took off for the first time since the new paint job and while some praised the revamp, others have claimed the Union Jack on the tail fin was painted upside down.

Social media users have vented their anger with one asking how the Ministry of Defence “could allow this to happen”.

Another said: “Union flag is upside down on the RAF Voyager!

“Really can’t make it up how incompetent this government is!”

Someone else said: “For all you faux patriots out there excited that it’s all about a £900k Union Jack makeover of a leased plane costing us more than had we bought it.

“It looks like it’ll be flying upside down so the Union Jack is the right way up. You couldn’t make it up…..distressed UK.”

However, the Royal Air Force have defended the paint work and said it was the correct way round.

They told the Telegraph: “The design is correct in all respects and carefully follows the correct protocol for displaying the Union Flag on an aircraft.

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“The convention is for the flag design to appear as though it is flying from a flag placed on the nose of the aircraft as it travels through the air.

“When viewing the starboard side [right side], this can give the mistaken impression that the design is backwards, or upside down, when in fact the observer is simply viewing the reverse side of the flag.”

Last week, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden was asked whether spending £900,000 to repaint a plane was the best use of taxpayers money.

Mr Dowden said: “We have always spent money on promoting the UK around the world, if you look at the Great Campaign.

“And I have seen this in creative industries and we genuinely are a creative industries superpower and we should be promoting that and we have done that with the Great Campaign.

“And I think the work on Voyager is part of that promotion.”

The plane is used by Mr Johnson, other ministers as well as members of the Royal Family.

Back in 2016, the interior of the plane had a £10m makeover while David Cameron was Prime Minister.

Mr Johnson has previously criticised the old colouring and said he would like to have a “Brexit plane” to help him travel the globe.

An RAF source said: “Boris and others will use it to go around the world and wave the British flag.

“It will be diplomatic and it will be appropriate.

“I imagine it will be in great demand when it gets its new and smart paint job.”

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