Suggestions that a new £190 million Royal Yacht should be built in Prince Philip’s honour have been met with disbelief on Twitter today.
Several Tory MPs have backed plans for the tribute, which call on Boris Johnson to sanction a successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia, which was decommissioned in 1997.
South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay told The Sunday Telegraph: “The towering figure that was the Duke of Edinburgh deserves a permanent tribute to his support for the country, the Commonwealth and the Queen.”
Former Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry added: “The Duke of Edinburgh was well known for his love of Britannia – it is a fitting tribute to now create a new royal yacht named the Duke of Edinburgh in his memory and for the Queen.”
It’s not the first time such proposals have been put forward.
Last year Penny Mordaunt joined Lord Digby Jones, Mark Francois and Owen Paterson in calling for the Queen’s ship to be rebuilt.
She also said that rather than taking the money from businesses, taxpayers and the National Lottery, the additional funding could be found in the aid budget.
Needless to say the idea has been met with fierce criticism online.
Here’s what people had to say:
Boris Johnson to sanction construction of a £190 million successor to Royal Yacht as a memorial to the Duke of Edinburgh
— ⚫️Dan White 🇪🇺♿️✊🏿🏳️🌈💙🌹 (@Danwhite1972) April 10, 2021
My carers allowance is £67 a week. That’s to provide for everything my disabled daughter needs.
British priorities 2021@LouiseRawAuthor @Rachael_Swindon pic.twitter.com/jnT6m9Ij9b
I do not support spending £190 million on a new Royal Yacht named HMY Duke of Edinburgh when the Government says we can't afford to feed hungry children.
— Freddie (@FreddieBailey96) April 11, 2021
No money for the poor.
— Freddie (@FreddieBailey96) April 11, 2021
No money for the disabled.
No money for councils.
No money for rough sleepers.
No money for social care.
No money for the homeless.
No money for social housing.
No money for the NHS.
But apparently there's money for a new Royal Yacht.
We could save £190m and give it to the NHS instead.
— Ian Harris 🇪🇺💙 (@biscuitsgod) April 10, 2021
We could afford this in less than 4 days! (QQ why are we not seeing that 350m per week in the NHS? – Asking for some Nurses that didn't get a payrise?) pic.twitter.com/FZmdX4hDzL
— Fozzie – Can anyone see the Brexit benefit? (@AsgsFoster) April 11, 2021
Related: Papers in the UK and around the world react to the death of Prince Philip
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