Can I opt out of contributing to the new royal yacht and put my bit into the NHS please

I know what it made 30 years ago. I want to see the evidence you're using to say that it would make money nowadays.

That was actually 30 years ago and how was that calculated?

The Overseas Trade board estimated that Britannia made 3 billion pounds for the exchequer between 1991- 1995.

Oh, I see now, you didnt understand. It's ok.

RN tours are often referred to as a cruise.

Cruising suggests they're on holiday. I never said anything like that. I just don't see the point of them having a yacht when they are used to using other methods.

Where did I say they would use it for cruising?

How would you describe transport by a ship manned by RN personnel then?

Where did I say they would use it for cruising?

I asked if it was necessary for them to have this particular form of transport why meetings couldn't be held in Embassies or hired buildings. The yacht is unnecessary in this day and age.

Bodach
?

Actually, I think the RF would rarely get a cruise on it, vampirequeen!

Can you produce some evidence to support you claims that it will bring in business? Also how much will this business be worth? The yacht is projected to cost £200 million but then there will be the yearly running costs. Vessels of this sort are not cheap to run and maintain. Will the RN provide officers, crew and a Royal Marine band in the same way they did before? Who will pay their wages?

The RF have the Royal Train and cars to travel in the UK or they can access helicopters if they want to get somewhere faster. They have the Royal Flight if they want to go abroad. We already fund these. Do we really need to fund a Royal Yacht?

Businessmen travel by plane, train and car. Embassies and the government can host/organise sales campaigns. Governments negotiate treaties. None of these need to take place on a yacht.

Sea travel was much more common in the 1950s when HMY Britannia was built. The same cannot of be said of today.

Bodach Are you actually interested in the answers to your questions - or are you just taking the opportunity to sneer? Since I suspect it's the latter, I won't bother
Do you mean I was supposed to take the suggestion that I joined the navy seriously???? This is GRANS net and even if I was one of the younger grans-which I'm not- I doubt if the navy would want me. So who is sneering????

trisher

Bodach

trisher

If we have to have one will we all get a turn on her?

Certainly. Either join the Navy, or apply to the Department for International Trade for an opportunity to promote your (UK) business's goods and services during a Port Visit overseas.

Is joinig the Navy a guarantee of a turn on her? I wouldn't have thought so-or maybe it is. They don't have that many ships left do they?
Can businesses in the UK lobby then to have the Royal Yacht and the RF promote them during a visit Oh I can see some dodgy deals there

Are you actually interested in the answers to your questions - or are you just taking the opportunity to sneer?
Since I suspect it's the latter, I won't bother.

Bodach

trisher

If we have to have one will we all get a turn on her?

Certainly. Either join the Navy, or apply to the Department for International Trade for an opportunity to promote your (UK) business's goods and services during a Port Visit overseas.

Is joinig the Navy a guarantee of a turn on her? I wouldn't have thought so-or maybe it is. They don't have that many ships left do they?
Can businesses in the UK lobby then to have the Royal Yacht and the RF promote them during a visit Oh I can see some dodgy deals there

Callistemon

Oh, I have Bodach! That takes me back ???

DH treated me to a night out in Diamond Lil's when we were first married! I was very naicely brought up and it was a real eye opener.

Well, BRAVO ZULU (BZ) to you, Callistemon!!

Maybe years ago the RF was to be admired and brought prestige not now so much if at all. We are in the 21st century.

Lots of countries have done away with their monarchies.

Ours in the one of the most expensive. All told £345 million for this family. Plus a yacht Don't they have more than enough 19 palatial homes, for their exclusive use.

This comment from a lady living in Germany is worth repeating about the benefits of an elected president.

Or like our Bundes President here in Germany. A very well respected figure head, whose sole purpose is to welcome foreign heads of state, represent Germany abroad and sign his/her name on bills which have passed both houses. The only difference between Michael D. Higgins and our president, Frank-Walther Steinmaier, is that MDH was elected by the electorate, whereas Steinmaier was nominated by and elected by our elected representatives in the Bundestag. The roles are the same though and both do an excellent job, IMO. The fact that they have limited terms of office is a good thing too. The Monarchie in the UK is a waste of space and money and is an anachronism in the 21st century

I want the monarchy abolished. Not more spent of this hugely already wealthy family who do not work hard hardly at all. We have a useless and pointless HoS, we deserve so much more.

Maybe it can tour those countries we’ve cut foreign aid to and cheer them up with a wave.

If there is anyone with their finger on the pulse it is William and Kate, their opinion holds sway increasingly.

The idea we need some floating embassy to tour the colonies and flog British cheese or whatever we produce is ridiculous. I don’t see Germany or any other country which actually manufactures things people buy having an overpriced boat hosting trading partners. This is the 21st century fgs. I expect they will have trays of Ferraro Rocher for the ambassadors.

Oh, I have Bodach! That takes me back ???

DH treated me to a night out in Diamond Lil's when we were first married! I was very naicely brought up and it was a real eye opener.

"RY Britannia was manned by serving RN personnel. I've never seen one in a powdered periwig ???"
You obviously haven't been on a run ashore in Diamond Lil's (Plymouth), or Beastie's (Southsea), Callistemon...

What’s happening about the bridge to Ireland by the way?

trisher

If we have to have one will we all get a turn on her?

Certainly. Either join the Navy, or apply to the Department for International Trade for an opportunity to promote your (UK) business's goods and services during a Port Visit overseas.

Excellent post Bodach and I agree with you too Callistemon, although whatever time was suggested would have some saying no, not now. If it goes ahead, we need to bite the bullet and get on with it. Otherwise the idea should be dropped, I don’t think we should agonise over it for years.

If we have to have one will we all get a turn on her?

I don't think the timing is very good though.

How would a yacht 'proudly promote the UK around the world' and how would it 'generate millions in trade and prestige'?

In the same way as Royal Yacht Britannia did?

manned by powdered and periwigged flunkies

RY Britannia was manned by serving RN personnel. I've never seen one in a powdered periwig ???

Bodach made some good points.

If we have £200million going spare then we should feed our children and not have families relying on food banks.
Of course, that money could be regarded as an investment which could increase trade, boost the economy, create jobs and bring in more revenue to help needy families and spend on public services.