Give Queen a new £60m royal yacht - Tory minister

[dreamweaver]

UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/ja...rt-of-comments

Give Queen a new royal yacht for diamond jubilee, says Michael Gove

Exclusive: Education secretary proposes taxpayers fund gift – likely to cost at least £60m – to mark 'momentous occasion'


Michael Gove has brushed aside Britain's economic problems to propose the public donate a new royal yacht to the Queen as a mark of respect during this year's diamond jubilee celebrations, according to a confidential letter to fellow ministers.

In the letter, which has been sent to Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary and minister overseeing the celebrations, and to the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, Gove at one point comes close to suggesting that Britain's dire economic climate means that a large-scale celebration is required to lift the country's spirits.

The education secretary writes: "In spite, and perhaps because of the austere times, the celebration should go beyond those of previous jubilees and mark the greater achievement that the diamond anniversary represents."

The Liberal Democrats privately expressed surprise at the proposal, which is likely to cost at least £60m, at a time of national austerity.

Meanwhile Tom Watson, the Labour party vice-chairman, said: "When school budgets are being slashed, parents will be wondering how Gove came even to suggest this idea."

Gove, an enthusiastic monarchist, writes in the letter: "I feel strongly that the diamond jubilee gives us a tremendous opportunity to recognise in a very fitting way the Queen's highly significant contribution to the life of the nation and the Commonwealth."

Commenting on draft celebration proposals prepared by Hunt, Gove expresses his reservations at a lack of ambition, saying: "I feel strongly more should be done to achieve a longer lasting legacy. Events such as proms and the party at the palace organised for the diamond jubilee, and street parties, although excellent, are transient. It would be appropriate to do something that will mark the significance of this occasion with fitting ceremony.

"My suggestion would be a gift from the nation to her majesty; thinking about David Willetts's excellent suggestion of a royal yacht, and something tangible to commemorate this momentous occasion." He adds: "The year ahead provides an enormous opportunity to showcase the very best of Britain."

Hinting at cabinet tensions over the way in which the culture department is focusing so heavily on the Olympics in the year of the jubilee, Gove says: "The diamond jubilee must not be overshadowed by the Olympic Games, but form an integral part of this great year for our country."

Some of Gove's extravagant language reveals the difficulties created for politicians by the coincidence of the jubilee and the Olympics, alongside forecasts that the UK economy will slip back into recession this year and see a further severe squeeze on living standards. Labour will be watching for any sign the national celebrations are used by the government to distract from the state of the economy.

Gove ends his letter by suggesting that if insufficient taxpayer funds are available a private donation could be sought, before making a naked departmental bid for every schoolchild or school to be given a gift as a permanent reminder of the event. Gove's office confirmed the authenticity of the letter but refused to comment.

The royal yacht Britannia was decommissioned by the Labour government in December 1997 and became a visitor attraction in Edinburgh. It was last seen listing after a leak during repairs over the New Year holiday.

Various efforts have been made to propose a new royal yacht, but have been rejected on the grounds of cost, estimated in 1997 at £60m. However, during the June celebrations a luxury cruiser boat, the Spirit of Chartwell, which is already being dressed up as a royal barge, will carry the Queen along the Thames as part of a pageant.

[bemore]

Id be willing to chip in a little bit extra.............as long as they sink it with them all onboard.

[themime]

I hear there's one going cheap off the coast of Italy.

[madame_follette]

Gove, an enthusiastic monarchist, writes in the letter: "I feel strongly that the diamond jubilee gives us a tremendous opportunity to recognise in a very fitting way the Queen's highly significant contribution to the life of the nation and the Commonwealth."

I don't need no boat to "recognise" her "highly significant contribution to the life of the nation and the Commonwealth". I should think it's already patently obvious for all to see.

[warwick]

Disinfo bollocks stop buying in to this shit.

[mistergreen]

Give Queen a new royal yacht for diamond jubilee

lizzy craves for human flesh not overpriced boats

[dreamweaver]

Originally Posted by warwick

Disinfo bollocks stop buying in to this shit.

It's not "disinfo bollocks" and nobody is "buying into it". It's also not your forum, so it's not for you to tell people what they can and can't post here.

But anyway, here's an alternative version from Newsthump:

http://newsthump.com/2012/01/16/mich...yacht-wind-up/

Michael Gove attempts to troll entire country with Jubilee yacht wind-up
Luxury Yacht

Education Secretary Michael Gove has launched an ambitious attempt to troll the entire UK by suggesting that taxpayers buy the Queen a new yacht to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.

Mr Gove is believed to have spent the morning sat in his office reading Twitter and the comments section of the Guardian, while miming a fisherman reeling in his catch.

The nationwide trolling attempt was initiated in a letter that was sent to Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary and deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, in which Mr Gove suggested that spending at least £60m on a new royal yacht would be sure to lift the country’s spirits.

The education secretary writes: “At a time when the government launches attack after attack on the poor, sick and disabled, or what we like to call scroungers, I think it would be a gesture of goodwill to give one of our biggest scroungers a nice big boat.”
Queen’s New Yacht

The public have reacted with Caps Lock fury to the letter, despite the only logical explanation for its contents being that Mr Gove is on an epic wind-up.

Hospitals have already reported an influx of Twitter users who have been admitted to A&E with Exclamation mark keys stuck to their fingers and foreheads.

Tom Watson, the Labour party vice-chairman, hit out at Mr Gove’s suggestions, but said it might be possible to arrange some form of compromise that will suit all parties.

“There’s a luxury cruise ship currently sitting off the coast of western Italy that’s free to collect,” he revealed.

[onee]

I cant believe what I am reading.

This is just some priviliaged little rat who is trying to get in the Royal familys good books. Maybe get a free tour of the palace. What a crafty old shark.

[warwick]

Michael Gove attempts to troll entire country with Jubilee yacht wind-up
Luxury Yacht

That was basicly my point.
Some guy reckons we should give the queen a yacht.
One person?
So it is an article of nonsense put out to cause a reaction, hence disinfo bollocks imo.

[dreamweaver]

Originally Posted by warwick

That was basicly my point.
Some guy reckons we should give the queen a yacht.
One person?
So it is an article of nonsense put out to cause a reaction, hence disinfo bollocks imo.

That "one person" is the Education Secretary, the same man who expects the teachers he employs (along with the rest of the public sector workers) to work longer and pay more contributions towards a pension with lower benefits when they retire. And yet he thinks there is money to spare for shit like this.

Note this paragraph: "Gove ends his letter by suggesting that if insufficient taxpayer funds are available a private donation could be sought, before making a naked departmental bid for every schoolchild or school to be given a gift as a permanent reminder of the event. Gove's office confirmed the authenticity of the letter but refused to comment."

They are laughing at us, I'll agree with that. But the reason they're laughing isn't really because he's trolling us for the lulz, it's because the people are just rolling over and taking it instead of doing something about it.

[redsky]

It strikes me as one of those situations, when some snivelling, grovelling arse licker suggests something, in this instance a boat for Lizzie & when she says "no thanks, not while my subjects are suffering from my goverments austerity measures". The whole media will go gung ho & say how mavellous she is for putting her nation first & her subjects will lap it up with a collective "Gawd Bless her".

[warwick]

Originally Posted by dreamweaver

That "one person" is the Education Secretary, the same man who expects the teachers he employs (along with the rest of the public sector workers) to work longer and pay more contributions towards a pension with lower benefits when they retire. And yet he thinks there is money to spare for shit like this.

Note this paragraph: "Gove ends his letter by suggesting that if insufficient taxpayer funds are available a private donation could be sought, before making a naked departmental bid for every schoolchild or school to be given a gift as a permanent reminder of the event. Gove's office confirmed the authenticity of the letter but refused to comment."

They are laughing at us, I'll agree with that. But the reason they're laughing isn't really because he's trolling us for the lulz, it's because the people are just rolling over and taking it instead of doing something about it.

Yeh I guess you have a point there.

[beldazar]

Originally Posted by dreamweaver

It's not "disinfo bollocks" and nobody is "buying into it". It's also not your forum, so it's not for you to tell people what they can and can't post here.

But anyway, here's an alternative version from Newsthump:

http://newsthump.com/2012/01/16/mich...yacht-wind-up/

Michael Gove attempts to troll entire country with Jubilee yacht wind-up
Luxury Yacht

Education Secretary Michael Gove has launched an ambitious attempt to troll the entire UK by suggesting that taxpayers buy the Queen a new yacht to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.

Mr Gove is believed to have spent the morning sat in his office reading Twitter and the comments section of the Guardian, while miming a fisherman reeling in his catch.

The nationwide trolling attempt was initiated in a letter that was sent to Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary and deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, in which Mr Gove suggested that spending at least £60m on a new royal yacht would be sure to lift the country’s spirits.

The education secretary writes: “At a time when the government launches attack after attack on the poor, sick and disabled, or what we like to call scroungers, I think it would be a gesture of goodwill to give one of our biggest scroungers a nice big boat.”
Queen’s New Yacht

The public have reacted with Caps Lock fury to the letter, despite the only logical explanation for its contents being that Mr Gove is on an epic wind-up.

Hospitals have already reported an influx of Twitter users who have been admitted to A&E with Exclamation mark keys stuck to their fingers and foreheads.

Tom Watson, the Labour party vice-chairman, hit out at Mr Gove’s suggestions, but said it might be possible to arrange some form of compromise that will suit all parties.

“There’s a luxury cruise ship currently sitting off the coast of western Italy that’s free to collect,” he revealed.

Hehe gotta repost that one

Originally Posted by dreamweaver

That "one person" is the Education Secretary, the same man who expects the teachers he employs (along with the rest of the public sector workers) to work longer and pay more contributions towards a pension with lower benefits when they retire. And yet he thinks there is money to spare for shit like this.

Note this paragraph: "Gove ends his letter by suggesting that if insufficient taxpayer funds are available a private donation could be sought, before making a naked departmental bid for every schoolchild or school to be given a gift as a permanent reminder of the event. Gove's office confirmed the authenticity of the letter but refused to comment."

They are laughing at us, I'll agree with that. But the reason they're laughing isn't really because he's trolling us for the lulz, it's because the people are just rolling over and taking it instead of doing something about it.

Well said

[acharlatani]

Originally Posted by dreamweaver

They are laughing at us, I'll agree with that. But the reason they're laughing isn't really because he's trolling us for the lulz, it's because the people are just rolling over and taking it instead of doing something about it.

Too true. UKRIP....

[drhemp]

She used to park her old yacht Britannia sometimes in the River Dart. I remember years ago, when the boat was parked in the Dart, I was in the village pub and an old Welsh friend of mine who was a socialist really would up this old Tory who was a retired Captain in the army, by saying what a complete waste of tax payers money it was. I was quite young at the time; this old guy went red in the face with rage when my Welsh mate Terry said the Royals were nothing but parasites. Well funny it was.

[rbl_4nik8r]

Build a huge toilet, one so big a yacht could float around in it, cost 10 million £.

Hook said toilet up to the sewer system, cost 5 million £.

Build a nice fancy yacht with all kinds of bells and whistles, must be able to hold 250 plus people and there family's, cost 20 million £.

Hold Diamond Jubilee Party and invite all the world leaders to join the Queen on her new yacht for its christening and maiden voyage, cost 15 million £.

Getting 30 million people in the UK to pull the chain while said yacht is on its maiden voyage with all the world leaders PRICELESS.



4nE

[tribal_sarah]

Can't stand Gove. He's a weird, oily, fish faced little creep. Reminds me of those kids who hang around school bullies.

[whizzer]

A flippin bullet behind her ear she should get not a yacht!.... Royal bitch!

[velma]

[greatdayforfreedom]

A yacht to coincide with the jubilee party this summer. The sheeple will lap it up.