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Welsh Labour MP calls Boris Johnson’s royal yacht plan a ‘vanity project’

28 Jun 2021 2 minute read
The Royal Yacht Britannia, which was in service until 1997. By Ben Salter (CC 2.0)

A Welsh Labour MP has called Boris Johnson’s plan for a royal yacht a “vanity project”.

According to Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds, who represents Torfaen, spending £283m on a vessel for the Royal Family would be “wasting” taxpayers’ money.

He was responding to a report in The Sunday Times that senior members of the Royal Family won’t use to the yacht for holidays after a row about the huge price tag.

According to a source close to the royal household the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge have no interest in what Downing Street is calling a “national flagship” to replace the Royal Yacht Britannia, which was scrapped in 1997.

The UK Government’s Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is reportedly reluctant to pay for the project.

Thomas-Symonds said: “The yacht is clearly a vanity project for the Prime Minister, and, instead of wasting £283m of taxpayers’ money, he should be using the funds to address the soaring anti-social behaviour that is blighting communities across the country.”

A source close to the royal household told The Sunday Times: “No one wants this vessel at the palace.

“Charles doesn’t want it. William has no interest in it. He has no interest in naval things at all. All this controversy has just put them off even more.

“Will they go on board to promote trade if they’re in the area? Of course. But you won’t get them taking it up to the west coast of Scotland like the Duke of Edinburgh used to.”

‘Annoyed’ 

According to senior government sources the Ministry of Defence has annoyed Johnson by continuing to resist calls to foot the entire £200m bill. “People in the MoD are asking No 10, ‘What do you want us to scrap to pay for it?’ They’re threatening to cut another surface vessel or some F-35 jets. Boris is furious about the whole thing. He loves the plan.”

Johnson believes the ship can be used to promote trade deals and his vision of post-Brexit “global Britain”, however, other political sources say he has been was warned several times by aides that the plan was “a disaster in the making”.


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Quornby
Quornby
2 years ago

The only time I ever saw the queen visibly damp eyed was when the Britannia was de-commissioned. My guess is that Johnson is aware of this and wants to spend this ridiculous figure to ingratiate himself. £283Million. I haven’t heard the queen rubbish the proposal.

Bruce
Bruce
2 years ago

Not a royalist myself but I get the impression that the royal family are not too happy about getting dragged into party politics.

Gill Jones
Gill Jones
2 years ago
Reply to  Bruce

Really! Remember their presence, in abundance, at the G7 show. Scotland now honoured by their presence at every opportunity – Us next! Boris and his One Nation obsession won’t wash with us.

Chris
Chris
2 years ago

This just joins the long list of vanity projects from the Liar in Chief including but not limited to “Thames Airport” (build an island in the Thames so important people can get into the city quicker); Garden Bridge (Joanna Lumley loved it and Boris’ chums made millions but it never got built); named the bikes Red Ken came up with after himself (Boris Bikes); claimed credit for the Olympics; the explodey bridge between nowhere Scotland and nowhere Ireland. At least he won’t be able to name the royal “yacht” after himself. The queen will probably not live to see it… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Chris
hdavies15
hdavies15
2 years ago

This M.P is a bit slow off the mark. Perceptive people from all over, not just this site, have for months included this daft idea on a long list of vanity projects.

Phil Davies
Phil Davies
2 years ago

Perhaps he could use some of the dinghies confiscated in Dover to promote his silly ‘Global Britain’ plan

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