Gove wants us to give Queenie a new yacht

la gran siete

if thats the case then i have no problem with it

la gran siete

rather more than the average benefit claiming family then

gibbsy

I know this is hypothetical as I don't think we will see a yacht.

Would the taxpayer fund the crew and how many of them?

Due to security issues would a Royal Navy vessel, ie, frigate, be stationed along side for protection. How would that be funded?

I don't think the idea is as simple as it sounds, even as a floating GB PR base. The world simply is not safe enough. With HM on board it would make a big terrorist target.

Cloverleaf

Errr...who don't work for UK PLC and earn it millions of pounds in trade

la gran siete

maybe we should swap a benefit claimant with HRH  for a week and see how well they do.Could be pleasantly surprised

hopeless

What would an 85 year old woman want with a yacht? She would name it and walk round it for 5 mins whilst they give her a little tour and that would be first and last time she would use it.

90% of its time it would be used by Princess Anne and as a party boat for James Hewitt's son.

Sonic67

The previous crew was Royal Navy personnel. The Royal Navy are paid for by taxpayers.

How many of them? No idea. How big would it be? Would it be more automated than the past? It's main role would be entertaining foreign dignitaries etc so expect a fair few people serving others I suppose. It would be something like a floating ambassadors residence.
It already would be a Royal Navy ship crewed by Royal Navy personnel. Either it wouldn't go sailing where there was a risk or it could carry a few arms in a locker somewhere. I believe some Russian billionaire owned ships carry weapons and shoulder launched missile launchers. There's no reason why it couldn't also be carrying whatever was needed, machine guns? javelin? a helicopter pad? Whatever.   
She has travelled on ordinary trains round the country without incident.

Queen lets the train take the strain on way to Sandringham | UK news | guardian.co.uk

Sonic67

BBC News - Royal yacht idea considered by Cameron

A new royal yacht, built with private funding, is being considered by the prime minister, Downing Street says.

The Future Ship Project for the 21st Century (FSP21) involves building a ship 600ft long, to be used for trade and business events, as well as a training ship for 200 young people.

Downing Street emphasised that taxpayers' money would not be used on any new royal yacht.

Anything in the above anyone would still object to?

Sonic67

She used the last one a lot:
Royal residence

As well as hosting royal banquets and receptions, Britannia was an ambassador for British business, promoting trade and industry around the globe. Indeed the Overseas Trade Board estimates that £3 billion has been made for the Exchequer as a result of commercial days on Britannia between 1991 and 1995.

gibbsy

Then, hypothetically, there would be a burden on the taxpayer. With the proposed cuts to service personnel would the RN sailors be saved from the dole queue or just be transferred from another ship.

Can the country afford to crew it at this time. I'd rather see that money spent on better protection for the lads in Afghanistan.

If it does go ahead then I think it would really be HMS GB, with the queen as a paid member of the crew. To call it the Royal Yacht will just infuriate people.

I still think it's pie in the sky but now just goes to show just how out of touch Cameron and Co really are with the public.