Brexit: Ministers try to push through plans for £100m royal yacht as EU talks remain deadlocked
News comes as the Royal Navy faces severe cuts
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Senior Conservative Ministers have reportedly endorsed the prospect of a new royal yacht, just as the European Union has warned the UK that Brexit talks are deadlocked.
Pro-Brexit politicians believe commissioning a £100m boat, ostensibly a “floating palace” for the Queen but also to be used to showcase the “best in Britain”, at the same time as the Royal Navy is facing severe cuts.
The privately funded “Brexit-annia” would be employed in a bid to secure the numerous trade deals the UK must win after leaving the EU.
It would display “the soft power of our nation around the world,” Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry told The Daily Telegraph.
The minister said he and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox thought the boat would be a “great thing”.
While the money for its construction will come from private donors, there are anticipated to be around £10m in annual running costs.
The previous royal yacht, HMY Britannia, was decommissioned under the Labour government in 1997.
It required hundreds of Royal Navy personnel to crew and a platoon of Royal Marines for security when the Queen was on board.
Government financial difficulties mean the prospect of cutting 1,000 marines and two amphibious assault ships has also been raised in recent days.
But Mr Berry said: “It would be a fantastic opportunity to show the best of British manufacturing on a global scale.
“Anything we can do to support the conception of global Britain, do free trade deals, support businesses across the north of England and elsewhere, I do think we should give consideration to.”
Senior ministers have been touting the prospect of a new royal yacht since last year’s vote to leave the EU.
In March, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told the newspaper: “It is my view that it would indeed add greatly to the soft power of this country, a soft power which is already very considerable.
“The new Britannia should not be a call on the taxpayer, if it can be done privately I am sure it would attract overwhelming support.”
Critics have called it a “colossal waste of money”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments