In todays telegraph
Former Conservative leadership contender Penny Mordaunt has unveiled plans for three multi-purpose ships to “fly the flag” for the UK and act as a replacement for the Royal Yacht Britannia.
The vessels would be capable of performing a range of roles from disaster relief to research, and the cleaning up of oceans.
Built in British shipyards, they could also be used in operations to tackle illegal migration, as well as for communication purposes.
Unlike Boris Johnson’s £250 million plan for a replacement for the Royal Yacht Britannia, the proposed vessels would be commercially built and operated and funded exclusively by the private sector.
The first of the ships is expected to cost £150 million, with the other two likely to cost “significantly” less.
The Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in 1997, in a move that caused the late Queen much sorrow. Campaigners want a replacement to promote the UK overseas.
Ms Mordaunt’s support for the multi-purpose ships idea came as part of her role as MP for a seat in Portsmouth, the country’s naval capital - rather than her Cabinet role as Leader of the House of Commons.
It is not part of her Cabinet brief, and may raise eyebrows in the wake of her previous tilt at the Tory leadership in October, when she ran against Rishi Sunak, but withdrew before the vote.
“The UK is a proud maritime nation, whose expertise is recognised and respected around the world,” she said.
“These multi-purpose ships seek to build on this by providing additional capacity to our existing fleets to deliver additional training, scientific research and disaster relief, while giving businesses space to show off innovative British products and services.
“They are not designed merely to replicate what we had in the past, but are based on a serious and detailed assessment of what the country needs in the future in a cost-effective way by working closely with the private sector.
“These ships will fly the flag for the UK and will provide important additional resources for humanitarian relief and scientific research.”
Former Conservative leadership contender Penny Mordaunt has unveiled plans for three multi-purpose ships to “fly the flag” for the UK and act as a replacement for the Royal Yacht Britannia.
The vessels would be capable of performing a range of roles from disaster relief to research, and the cleaning up of oceans.
Built in British shipyards, they could also be used in operations to tackle illegal migration, as well as for communication purposes.
Unlike Boris Johnson’s £250 million plan for a replacement for the Royal Yacht Britannia, the proposed vessels would be commercially built and operated and funded exclusively by the private sector.
The first of the ships is expected to cost £150 million, with the other two likely to cost “significantly” less.
The Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in 1997, in a move that caused the late Queen much sorrow. Campaigners want a replacement to promote the UK overseas.
Ms Mordaunt’s support for the multi-purpose ships idea came as part of her role as MP for a seat in Portsmouth, the country’s naval capital - rather than her Cabinet role as Leader of the House of Commons.
It is not part of her Cabinet brief, and may raise eyebrows in the wake of her previous tilt at the Tory leadership in October, when she ran against Rishi Sunak, but withdrew before the vote.
“The UK is a proud maritime nation, whose expertise is recognised and respected around the world,” she said.
“These multi-purpose ships seek to build on this by providing additional capacity to our existing fleets to deliver additional training, scientific research and disaster relief, while giving businesses space to show off innovative British products and services.
“They are not designed merely to replicate what we had in the past, but are based on a serious and detailed assessment of what the country needs in the future in a cost-effective way by working closely with the private sector.
“These ships will fly the flag for the UK and will provide important additional resources for humanitarian relief and scientific research.”
