Sounds similar to the outcry in New Zealand when the NZ PM announced that the Official RNZAF VIP 757 was going to fly to ceremonies at Cassino and would take 70 politicians and bureaucrats and graciously also take 20 surviving veteran "D-Day Dodgers" along with them.
After some deep thinking, the Govt announced that not all of the pollies would be required and there would now be more space for a few more vets.
