British taxpayers have footed a £499,649 bill for 15 electric vehicles, purchased for the British Embassy in Tirana, with plans to donate them to Albanian prisons.
The contract, awarded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to Porsche Albania, was reportedly part of a wider initiative to support net-zero goals. Official documents state that "the required vehicles should be delivered at once."
While the UK government has invested heavily in green policies, the decision to supply high-end electric vehicles to another country’s prison system has raised eyebrows. With ongoing debates over public spending and the cost-of-living crisis at home, many are questioning whether this was the best use of taxpayer money.
The deal was apparently part of a package that has seen Albania take 200 Albanian prisoners back from the UK to help free up prison space.
What do you think? Should the UK government be spending half a million pounds on electric cars for Albanian prisons? Let us know your thoughts.