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

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

Patrick Wintour, political editor
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 15 January 2012 21.50 GMT


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.

Give Queen a new royal yacht for diamond jubilee, says Michael Gove | UK news | The Guardian

Yep and maybe we could have the yacht diamond encrusted.

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Nothing material could possibly match the love of the nation for its Queen so I suggest we don' try and instead organise a gigantic hugging session where the Queen hugs and is hugged by 100,000 lucky subjects, drawn by Lottery.

That should sort out this jubilee and any Royal Desire For Them (tm) for the foreseeable future...

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Royal yacht backers to launch public appeal for funds | UK news | The Guardian

Quote:

The backers of a new national flagship to be used by the royal family are to launch a public appeal for funds after they decided against seeking government money. The £80m project originated as a replacement for the Royal Yacht Britannia and has won the private backing of the Queen and Prince Philip, according to project insiders; but construction is to be funded by members of the public and corporate sponsors. The proposed 157m-sailing ship is to double as both a training vessel for young people and secure accommodation for members of the royal family when they are abroad. The charity behind the project, Future Ship Project 21st Century, said it hopes public interest around the Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations in June will help fill the project's coffers. The prospect of a vessel designed in part to host the royals being funded by the public at a time of austerity could cause political embarrassment, and Downing Street has been quick to say there will be no government money for the project, despite the suggestion by the education secretary, Michael Gove, that might be a possibility. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on whether it approved of public fundraising for a ship to be used by the royal family or if the palace would contribute. "The Queen's office is aware of the project's existence," a palace aide said. "We are also aware that the prime minister has sent a message of support for the initiative to the project organisers." Leading British companies will also be asked to donate funds in exchange for naming rights to various decks and facilities on board. Companies listed in the FTSE 100 will be approached, said Rear Admiral David Bawtree, chairman of the FSP21 consortium, leaving open the possibility that firms from British American Tobacco to Marks and Spencer could be asked to contribute to the royal vessel. So far two unnamed Canadian businessmen have pledged a possible £10m, but there are no other firm offers as yet. "We will go for national fundraising and I hope that members of the public will contribute to this," said Bawtree. "People will support this, as I have seen when I have given talks about the project. The jubilee also lends itself to a national appeal." As well as Bawtree, a former commander of the Portsmouth naval base, the project organisers include Colonel John Blashford-Snell, who in 1968 organised the first descent of the Blue Nile at the request of Haile Selassie, the emperor of Ethiopia, and Maldwin Drummond, a past Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron. They intend to invite 220 young people on board for three-month training voyages and also use the ship for environmental surveys. The decision to launch a national appeal comes after David Cameron gave his backing for the project, a key step in securing commercial sponsorship. David Willetts, the universities minister, had written to the prime minister urging him to support the four-sail ship after he was lobbied by Bawtree. Gove also urged Cameron to back the project and called for "a gift from the nation to her majesty" to mark her 60 years on the throne. The ship's designer, Colin Mudie, said he had included a helipad to land twin-engine helicopters used by the royal family. There will be two VIP suites with sufficient security to host royalty and the vessel will also be equipped for industrial and commercial exhibitions and conferences, and provide corporate entertainment facilities. "We of course kept the royal family informed, particularly because of Prince Philip's links to sail training," said Rosemary Mudie, partner in the ship design practice. "We always understood they approved of it but couldn't be seen to be saying it was a good idea for obvious reasons." The ship's backers are understood to be keen for the vessel to be built in the UK and that goal would be jeopardised if the project received government money because tenders would have to be sought from across the European Union to meet public procurement rules.

Contribute a fiver for the Benson and Hedges Royal Superyacht with Tesco Metro Guest Suite and Official Vodaphone Cabin Boys? Va bene, sto andando.

I'm not sure whether this corporate sponsorship is cheap-sounding or not. I mean, sure, a priori it's not very classy, but back in Medieval days the royals would go scrounging off the aristocracy, which isn't possible any more. Corporate bigwigs are the modern equivalent.

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