to think that it's not the government's responsibility to rescue stranded holidaymakers?

[wannaBe]

I understand why the government are doing it and I think that it's good that they are trying to help.

But tonight I was listening to a report on people who went to somewhere on the spanish coast to get on a boat, and when the boat was full, there were people being interviewed saying "well the government should be doing more, this is just not good enough" etc etc.

Thing is, this is just unfortunate - it's not the government's fault that there's dust in the atmosphere and that people can't get home.

And while it's inconvenient, sometimes, these things just happen. And nobody died or is dying.

And they'll all get home eventually.

I disagree to an extent. They ought to try to help repatriate countrymen that are stranded. It does the economy no good having people stuck overseas. If it was 5, or 10, then maybe. But 150,000+? That's a whole lot of people.

I read some moaning about the Royal Navy coming to collect them. I know it's no-one's fault but that just sounded churlish.

I personally think that each country should be doing the best they can to facilitate the stay of these holidaymakers. Instead of charging an astonishing amount for their rooms.

Isn't that one of the jobs of our armed forces, such as the Navy? To repatriate us?

Is that not what we pay our taxes for rather than to just safeguard all the oil in Afgan blow up a whole load of people in pointless wars?

I'd agree - the country hasn't stopped because of a missing 150,000 people as far as I can tell. The various consulates are handling emergiencies such as where additional medication supplies are necessary but any advice they can offer is fragmented as noone knows the extent of the issue yet - maybe that isn't as clear when you are in a foreign country. Delays are always a frustrating end to a break but they will manage to get ferries, trains etc if they are patient. Trouble is I bet many are on diy holidays and have minimal insurance cover, if any.

I think it is part of the government's role, to look after/protect/take care of the interests of its people. In theory anyway!

I was thinking that maybe those who are healthy enough (and armed with bottles of water etc.) could walk through the service tunnel of the channel tunnel - it's about 26 miles apparently.

Wonder if anyone has thought of this??? Might lighten the load a bit.

Lady - there is no oil in Afghan.

Our armed forces do whatever the government in power ask it to.

I believe the remit is to evacuate people who are in danger. It is called military aid to the civil power.

The husband would be up for that! Have to get him across the Atlantic first though...

agedknees

Really??

I've no problem with teh Royal Navy collecting people. But the moaner sounded petty.

This guy on the BBC site bugged me with "People are getting very frustrated and fed up by the UK government's handling of this situation. There is no information on when flights might resume." Well, um, because they don't know.

there is no shortage of space on ferries over the channel, it's getting to Calais/Boulogne which is the problem.

there are a couple of people in dh's team who are stuck on holiday. they've bought laptops and have been given internet access, working as best they can from where they are. no need to trek across europe until the airspace is open. all these people rushing back "because i am a piano examiner and have children waiting" - i mean, really, how crucial are you?!

Lady - Yes.

Awww MrsC - hope he gets home soon.

amid - fair enough - i reasoned that it was a silly thought hence no one mentioning it...

agedknees

Pipeline sorry....Oil pipeline...wasn't specific enough.

I think if it was one or two days, then fine. But DH has been told the 2nd May at the earliest...that is a fair while away. And no, the country hasn't stopped but it is costing businesses and families significant amounts. There's nothing the government can do for DH as he is so far away, but I think in general the government ought to be showing an interest.

I think it would be a good idea for our embassies or consuls to give out crisis loans to people stuck in places, or maybe they already do that?

My dh has friends stuck in New York, I have a work colleague having to stay on a boat on the Nile for another week (poor thing)!!

It must be scarey if you have run out of money.

Oh, and I know a few people that have been told even further off than that.

Oh don't get me started on it. I'm sick of these people moaning. I saw a great bit on Andrew Marr's show on Sunday when the papers were berating Gordon Brown for his lack of action. The comedian on the programme suggested that GB should be standing at John O'Groats blowing the ash cloud away from the UK.

No-one seems to be paying the same amount of attention to the rest of us unexpectedly having to cover people at work who should have been back a week ago.

I just saw someone on the one show complaining that she was bored sitting at the airport and the staff there couldn't answer her questions as they didn't know the answer. Sadly, I suspect their delivery of crystal balls is probably held up by the ash cloud.....

The government has spent the past 13 years acting as a Nanny state, so it's no surprise that people expect them to rescue them now.

There is no oil pipeline in Afghanistan, sorry Lady. The only thing coming out of a pipeline in Afghanistan is drugs.

Hmm, I think that as usual there is a lot of panic.

IMHO if you are in Oz, NZ, KL or the Seychelles for example, you are stranded.

Some lovely family in Avignon, for example is not stranded... get yourself to a ferry terminal/port etc and come home.

WRT the piano examiner, hmm, I saw that old fella, and while I do understand your point amidaiwish about him not being perhaps the most crucial, it's the spirit of the British, especially that generation, that they would move heaven and earth to get back cos he is expected.

I think that perhaps if there are tales of genuine hardship and need to return, then the Consulates/Embassies ought to advance sums/transport to ports etc to people but insist it's repaid once back in the UK.

As I understand it, the Navy is there as a back up should they be needed. According to sources, once you reach a port, you can depart in a couple of hours. More ships etc have been laid on, foot passengers are allowed around the clock now, and there are extra trains through the tunnel, not to mention coaches.

I consider the Govt response to be just about right (hates self for saying it) but you know what many people are like nowadays with their sense of entitlement and inability to take responsibility for themselves.

Some of these stranded people are having pay docked because they cannot get to work.

Some are sufferung greatly where hotels and travel operators are charging increased prices since the troubles began.

Financially this can be very difficult on stranded people.

Not all airlines are covering costs - so people are spending several hundreds of pounds, and more, to try and keep themselves with somewhere to stay and for food.

I'd rather the Governoment did something to help such people than what they spend money and time on otherwise half the time.