Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we should not be spending 200m on a Royal Yacht

63 replies

Chickpeasorchips · 21/06/2021 19:27

Not right now, it just seems like a waste of money at a time when there is so much that could be spent on. I wonder who even wants it- AIBU?

OP posts:
Shamoo · 21/06/2021 19:38

YANBU! A million times over!

Comedycook · 21/06/2021 19:42

Completely agree

Thevoiceofreason2021 · 21/06/2021 19:43

It’s not a yacht, it’s a ship. Also it will be designed and built in the UK giving work and supporting local economies. Our shipbuilding industry is in tatters and yet we have a history of great shipbuilding, our engineers work world wide because we can’t get work at home. The new Britannia will be a fantastic project which will boost our economy and showcase our industry. It couldn’t come at a better time.

TwoAndAnOnion · 21/06/2021 19:44

@Thevoiceofreason2021

It’s not a yacht, it’s a ship. Also it will be designed and built in the UK giving work and supporting local economies. Our shipbuilding industry is in tatters and yet we have a history of great shipbuilding, our engineers work world wide because we can’t get work at home. The new Britannia will be a fantastic project which will boost our economy and showcase our industry. It couldn’t come at a better time.
^^ This. It isn't a 'royal yacht', it's a government office, albeit a floating one.
Roussette · 21/06/2021 19:46

Given the state of the economy, what with Brexit and Covid, I think it's completely bonkers and also unlikely to happen.

To be fair to the RF, I don't think they want it from what I've read.

It's a Boris vote catcher.

pointythings · 21/06/2021 19:46

It won't necessarily be built in the UK though - because according to WTO rules (so beloved of Brexiters everywhere) the contract has to go out to international tender.

Of course our wonderful government has a habit of ignoring international law, so who knows? I resent every penny of my taxes that will go towards this monumental waste. It's just Boris Johnson's penis extension.

ForeverSausages · 21/06/2021 19:48

@pointythings

It won't necessarily be built in the UK though - because according to WTO rules (so beloved of Brexiters everywhere) the contract has to go out to international tender.

Of course our wonderful government has a habit of ignoring international law, so who knows? I resent every penny of my taxes that will go towards this monumental waste. It's just Boris Johnson's penis extension.

This. 100 times over.
AlexanderArnold · 21/06/2021 19:50

Madness

OldScrappyAndHungry · 21/06/2021 19:52

It’s utter bollocks. I’d like to see cast iron guarantees that this will earn back the money and more in new contracts. The money could be spent on so much more.

Orf1abc · 21/06/2021 19:53

What's the betting the contract will go to a Tory donor? How much will it cost to run this vessel each year?

And how much will we spend in defending cases brought as a result of an unfair tendering process?

No country is going to be persuaded to give us a favourable trade deal just because we've got a big ship. It's a short term vanity project, at a time when we have far more pressing needs.

Codywolf · 21/06/2021 19:53

I think it a great idea

PinkiOcelot · 21/06/2021 19:55

Not ever!

PartridgeFeather · 21/06/2021 19:56

@pointythings Couldn't have put it better myself, even though it's a revolting mental image 😂

Useless elitist willy-waving barge is the best our highly skilled engineers can come up with, is it? Really? I wonder what's next on the list of distraction projects to waste public money on. It's so great to be British.

PinusSylvestris · 21/06/2021 19:57

Yanbu.

TankFlyBossW4lk · 21/06/2021 20:00

Why on Earth do we need another "government office" floating or otherwise. Honestly, if we want to boost the economy make jobs building houses.

I honestly think some people are brainwashed.

Deadleaf29 · 21/06/2021 20:00

Stupid idea. I hope the Queen vetoes any suggestions of calling it after Prince Phillip - The Britannia was of its time and those days are now gone. The notion that a “ship” is somehow going to impress anyone or win any trade is utterly bonkers. Add it to the Scotland-NI tunnel as a bonkers Boris project and can the idea now. Better to spend the money on something actually useful in the modern age - how about fibre internet?

TSSDNCOP · 21/06/2021 20:01

They don't have to actually build it. It's a sap to Tory voters to think, they might do it. People who think it's hair-brained (probably including the RF) won't be voting for the Tory party anyway.

CheerfulBunny · 21/06/2021 20:12

We must have money to burn if we can afford this, right? I mean, it's not like we've had an crisis or anything recently, everything's fine!
Mind you, BJ won't be paying, WE will. For decades. Recession? What me, worry?

arithanaggerton · 21/06/2021 20:16

YANBU. 2000 council houses at £100,000 each could be built with that.

therealpercypig · 21/06/2021 20:17

@Thevoiceofreason2021

It’s not a yacht, it’s a ship. Also it will be designed and built in the UK giving work and supporting local economies. Our shipbuilding industry is in tatters and yet we have a history of great shipbuilding, our engineers work world wide because we can’t get work at home. The new Britannia will be a fantastic project which will boost our economy and showcase our industry. It couldn’t come at a better time.
Don't worry Mam, we won't let anyone else know you post on MN Wink
Original poster
Chickpeasorchips · 21/06/2021 20:19

He did waste a lot when he was London Mayor. There's running costs too like pp said - will be awkward for his whoever comes next to scrap it after so much money has been spent. Not a good look for Prince Charles to be cruising around in it I'd have thought.

I'm not sure why we need a floating government office - who's going to go on it? I can see from the shipbuilding angle but it's a one off - unless they think it's going to be so 'wow' that everyone will want one

OP posts:
Original poster
Chickpeasorchips · 21/06/2021 20:20

2000 council houses at £100,000 each could be built with that.
Yes

OP posts:
whoopsnomore · 21/06/2021 20:20
  1. De Pfeffel Johnson Vanity project (Garden Bridge cost how much and was never built??)
  2. Flag waving appeal to supposed "patriots"
  3. Not wanted by the royal family - the word "Royal" a sop to 2.
  4. Almost certainly a Tory donor who will benefit (if it is ever built)
  5. A distraction from the utter shameful illegal corruption and incompetence of our current excuse for a cabinet.
whoopsnomore · 21/06/2021 20:21

Sorry, forgot to specify, YANBU

Blossomtoes · 21/06/2021 20:21

@Thevoiceofreason2021

It’s not a yacht, it’s a ship. Also it will be designed and built in the UK giving work and supporting local economies. Our shipbuilding industry is in tatters and yet we have a history of great shipbuilding, our engineers work world wide because we can’t get work at home. The new Britannia will be a fantastic project which will boost our economy and showcase our industry. It couldn’t come at a better time.
This. And in all honesty this government has splashed so much money around in the last year this will barely register.