Prince Philip has Died R.I.P

[GrimUpNorth]

I'm sure many NHS staff will be even happier with their 1% pay rise when they hear just how hard up the country really is.

Not saying we shouldn't have a new Royal Yacht but maybe there are other things which are a bit more of a priority at the moment.

[Jaymoss]

Originally Posted by GrimUpNorth

I'm sure many NHS staff will be even happier with their 1% pay rise when they hear just how hard up the country really is.

Not saying we shouldn't have a new Royal Yacht but maybe there are other things which are a bit more of a priority at the moment.

I am saying we should not have a Royal Yacht 2000 100K houses could be built to house 2000 or more homeless people or vulnerable young or families or a big boat we do not need? no competition

[papa smurf]

It'll take a few years to build and the queen may longer be with us by the time it [sets sail].

the price will go up it's not going to be on budget.

[Pierre]

I’m not so sure it’s a great idea. Not at this time when many people have lost so much.

It will take an unbelievable amount of spin and PR to make it palatable.

[Jaymoss]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I’m not so sure it’s a great idea. Not at this time when many people have lost so much.

It will take an unbelievable amount of spin and PR to make it palatable.

Problem is I think the misplaced national pride and love for an archaic ideal of a monarchy will have most people saying " oh he would have liked that"

[Hom3r]

The point of a Royal Yacht is not for the queen to go to Ibiza for the week.

It is used for state visits, and promote Great Britian.

Originally Posted by GrimUpNorth

I'm sure many NHS staff will be even happier with their 1% pay rise when they hear just how hard up the country really is.

Not saying we shouldn't have a new Royal Yacht but maybe there are other things which are a bit more of a priority at the moment.

But this is why government is run by politicians, not activists or pressure groups. The question of whether to build a royal yacht isn't answered by placing it in binary opposition to the NHS, or anything else.

NHS wages aren't the only thing government has to spend money on. NHS wages (whisper it) may not even be the most important line in the budget. Don't confuse the popular mood with the balanced view of national priorities that is a government's duty.

That's not to say that a new royal yacht is the most important thing of all, or even that it's simply more important than NHS wages. But there are a whole lot of *less* important things that government spends money on, because it's a government, not a pressure group, and it has to fund lots of different things for lots of different reasons.

There are arguments that can be made for a royal yacht, in terms of foreign policy, whether that be diplomacy or promotion of British trade and industry. The royal patronage is what gives the yacht its allure. Obviously the days of arguing that the royal family needs a yacht to holiday on are long gone.

There's also an argument from British industrial skills development and maintenance, if BoJo is serious about ensuring it's built in a British yard. British shipyards rarely build any non-military vessels of any size any more, which is a tragedy given our heritage and the fact that it is obviously commercially possible to do so - there are plenty of successful commercial yards in Europe. The industry hasn't entirely gone to the far east.

[Jaymoss]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

The point of a Royal Yacht is not for the queen to go to Ibiza for the week.

It is used for state visits, and promote Great Britian.

We got stuff that already does that

[1andrew1]

I guess it's a toss-up between the yacht being built in a red wall area of England or in Scotland to try and keep the UK intact.

[Jaymoss]

Originally Posted by Chris

But this is why government is run by politicians, not activists or pressure groups. The question of whether to build a royal yacht isn't answered by placing it in binary opposition to the NHS, or anything else.

NHS wages aren't the only thing government has to spend money on. NHS wages (whisper it) may not even be the most important line in the budget. Don't confuse the popular mood with the balanced view of national priorities that is a government's duty.

That's not to say that a new royal yacht is the most important thing of all, or even that it's simply more important than NHS wages. But there are a whole lot of *less* important things that government spends money on, because it's a government, not a pressure group, and it has to fund lots of different things for lots of different reasons.

There are arguments that can be made for a royal yacht, in terms of foreign policy, whether that be diplomacy or promotion of British trade and industry. The royal patronage is what gives the yacht its allure. Obviously the days of arguing that the royal family needs a yacht to holiday on are long gone.

There's also an argument from British industrial skills development and maintenance, if BoJo is serious about ensuring it's built in a British yard. British shipyards rarely build any non-military vessels of any size any more, which is a tragedy given our heritage and the fact that it is obviously commercially possible to do so - there are plenty of successful commercial yards in Europe. The industry hasn't entirely gone to the far east.

And here was me thinking MPs were voted in to represent their constituents meaning if the people think NHS wages should be high on the agenda then NHS wages should be high on the agenda

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Jaymoss

And here was me thinking MPs were voted in to represent their constituents meaning if the people think NHS wages should be high on the agenda then NHS wages should be high on the agenda

Once you vote them in they don't care about your opinion until the next election is due.

Originally Posted by Jaymoss

And here was me thinking MPs were voted in to represent their constituents meaning if the people think NHS wages should be high on the agenda then NHS wages should be high on the agenda

You’re mistaken, on two points. First, we have representative democracy, not direct democracy. An MPs job is to use their best judgment in service of their constituents, not simply to do as instructed on any given issue. Second, I’m unaware of claiming NHS wages shouldn’t be high on the agenda - simply that NHS wages and a royal yacht aren’t a binary choice.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

The point of a Royal Yacht is not for the queen to go to Ibiza for the week.

It is used for state visits, and promote Great Britian.

You and I know that, but for many it will be seen as an unnecessary expense.

[Jaymoss]

Originally Posted by Chris

You’re mistaken, on two points. First, we have representative democracy, not direct democracy. An MPs job is to use their best judgment in service of their constituents, not simply to do as instructed on any given issue. Second, I’m unaware of claiming NHS wages shouldn’t be high on the agenda - simply that NHS wages and a royal yacht aren’t a binary choice.

where did I say you said anything??

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by Jaymoss

We got stuff that already does that

Sometimes that stuff needs replacing/upgraded.