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

Another vanity project like the garden bridge, which cost us millions in consultations and planning and was chucked into the Thames. What’s to bet the contract will be given to some billionaire Tory donor who does not pay U.K. tax.

It's the 21 Century and BBC's Good Morning Scotland have Lord Digby Jones on discussing a new royal yacht costing £200million as part of the pandemic recovery

@UnRoyalReporter

an old Etonian Buying a £200m Yacht for a Billionaire family with public money at a time of crisis....

( and somehow, this isn't a scandal)

@UnRoyalReporter

If you’re outraged by the thought of a new #RoyalYacht, can you also take a moment to consider whether the taxpayer should be forking out over £360m a year on one snobby family and their 17 palaces ?

Nannan2

Yes the BBC should definitely pay for it! Theyre already taking money for old rope off us for beggar all, for what? Maybe giving us ONE genuinely good series a year ('call the midwife' - also involving and due to the medical profession) and maybe a fair bit of coverage of the news and when a Royal passes on- but so equally do other channels whom we don't have to pay an arm& a leg for in licence fees! So yes, Urmstongran you are right- BBC should definitely foot the bill.It would be one British institution helping another.(shipbuilding)

A bit unfair to the BBC. Line of Duty for example ??

British television has always knocked spots off say Italian, French tv. IMO of course.

We need the BBC we do not need a royal yacht. I think the very idea is fantastically insensitive during/after a pandemic and when nurses can’t have a decent pay rise.

Lord Digby could pay for it out of his own pocket. I wouldn't mind that.

But who would crew it? The good old RN? I suppose it would be one extra ship for them when there are so many cut backs.

www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/02/12/the-royal-navy-keeps-shrinking-frigates-to-drop-by-three/?sh=142c4b676621

Ridiculous.

Come on ladies we should all be queuing up to donate to Boris's latest vanity project. Please put you cheque into an envelope covered in Union Flags.

Urmstongran

Helps with unemployment. How about we take it from BBC license fees? Last year the BBC took £3.5 billion to thoroughly demote and undermine this nation, so £200M is a drop in the ocean (ahem), for something to proudly promote the UK around the world.

It would generate millions in trade and prestige!

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

If we have £200million going spare then we should feed our children and not have families relying on food banks.

3d in old money? Is that enough?

Sad - but not unexpected - to see the usual knee-jerk hysteria trotted out here. It would appear that most respondents assume that any proposed "Royal Yacht" would be a gilded gin palace, manned by powdered and periwigged flunkies, at the beck and call of any member of the royal family who fancies a cruise to sunny climes. HMY Britannia was a certainly a creature of its time, but even it was designed to be able to be re-roled as a hospital ship. That was never invoked, although I believe Britannia did get used in the 80's to evacuate Europeans from a crisis in South Yemen. As someone who was involved in helping UK Exports, I can testify to the great effectiveness of the 'trade days' conducted in foreign ports on board Britannia by British companies. Some GN commentators may sneer, but to have British goods and services demonstrated and shown off to foreign dignitaries, officials and businessmen in such impressive surroundings, with all that the RN crew and RM band brought to the occasion - was a particularly successful mix, and did indeed help to bring in exports worth £billions . Any mooted replacement is most likely to be a thoroughly utilitarian and fully dual-purpose vessel, manned by RN (or Royal Fleet Auxiliary) personnel, and be tasked for much of the time to fill a role for the UK in fleet supply, diplomacy/export support and humanitarian/disaster relief.

I was about to say what Bodach has said but probably less well. Maybe it's a misnomer to call it a 'Royal Yacht' as its more like a multi functioning diplomatic/business vessel. If its designed and built here in the UK thus creating jobs it could be OK.

I don't think anyone has suggested it will be a 'gilded gin palace'. Most people who are against it seem to feel that there are simply better things to spend the money on at the moment. Why do we need a 'multifunctioning, diplomatic, business vessel'? Surely that's why we have Embassy buildings or hire hotel/conference centres. The £200 million is only the upfront cost. These things are not cheap to run or maintain and those costs will be incurred year after year.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

"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...

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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!!

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

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.