Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13494796)

A new national flagship is to be commissioned by the government in a bid to boost British trade and industry globally, the prime minister has said.

The vessel will be the successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia, which was retired in 1997.

The government plans to build the ship in the UK, at a reported cost of £200m.

The name of the new flagship has yet to be announced, but the Daily Telegraph has suggested the ship will be named after the Duke of Edinburgh, who helped design Britannia.

The new vessel would be used to promote British interests around the world - including hosting trade fairs and diplomatic meetings - as the UK seeks to build links and boost exports following Brexit.

The tendering process for its design and construction will begin soon - with an emphasis on utilising British design expertise and the latest green technology.

Downing Street said costs for the "construction and operation" of the ship would be confirmed after the tendering process concluded.

Construction is set to start as early as next year, with the ship expected to enter service within the next four years.

The vessel, which is set to be in service for about 30 years, will be part of the Royal Navy and crewed by it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57293882

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13497799)

WAs someone commented concerning the marriage.

"She's definitely not the first lady, and she won't be the last!"

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13498615)

Question is, will they get the Germans to fix it like the rifle or just abandon it like the Nimrod?

Originally Posted by Trebuchet (Post 13499104)

Flagship McFlagFace!

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13498441)

John Bercow a Tory MP appointed as Speaker by a Tory government was punished for not being partisan by the Tories when they withheld a peerage from him so that he could not sit in the House of Lords
He was the first speaker of the house in 230 years to not be automatically given one.

Meanwhile the son of a Russian oligarch and Tory party donor was given a title.

Originally Posted by gypsyjackson (Post 13499127)

Bercow was elected following a vote by MPs during Brown’s time as Prime Minister. He got over the line due to Labour MPs voting for him rather than Sir George Young - who did get a peerage.

That aside, it does seem very petty, and some of the people getting peerages have done a lot less to serve their country (for a more than decent wage, of course) than Bercow. Surely the Tories weren’t annoyed by him following proper Parliamentary procedure on Brexit?

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13498632)

Maybe Bercow didn't offer a big enough bribe!

https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/bre...s-peer-8025922

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13500457)

UK Govt tells civil servants to stop referring to Scotland & Wales as “countries”.

Civil service & diplomats are to refer to the UK as “one country” in future communications.

The ‘Union Unit’ under Boris Johnson’s direct command wants to ensure the end of the phrase “constituent countries” in future.

I think this was already on The Times website on Saturday evening.
I'm having trouble accessing it at the moment the moment though.

Also reports that officials have also been asked to stop using the phrase “devolved nations” and only use “devolved administrations”.

Seems to be the Welsh who have picked up on this news far more in the last few hours than the Scots, perhaps they already expect this kind of stuff.

Originally Posted by The Don (Post 13500948)

Well if you want to ensure that people living in a devolved administration continue to support the union, refusing to allow them to refer to their own country is a sure-fire way to do that. :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13500457)

UK Govt tells civil servants to stop referring to Scotland & Wales as “countries”.

Civil service & diplomats are to refer to the UK as “one country” in future communications.

The ‘Union Unit’ under Boris Johnson’s direct command wants to ensure the end of the phrase “constituent countries” in future.

I think this was already on The Times website on Saturday evening.
I'm having trouble accessing it at the moment the moment though.

Also reports that officials have also been asked to stop using the phrase “devolved nations” and only use “devolved administrations”.

Seems to be the Welsh who have picked up on this news far more in the last few hours than the Scots, perhaps they already expect this kind of stuff.

Originally Posted by Lothian (Post 13500954)

Given politicians propensity to jump on big sporting occasions I can't wait for 18 June and the

Northern Devolved Administration v South and Eastern Non-Devolved Territories

European Football Championship group match.

Originally Posted by Archie Gemmill Goal (Post 13502104)

We left! Get over it!

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13500457)

UK Govt tells civil servants to stop referring to Scotland & Wales as “countries”.

Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim (Post 13503330)

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13504699)

Civil servants have been told to ensure that senior cabinet ministers to be provisioned with personalised army, police & transport uniforms when making public media appearances in these areas.

Thid is to transmit “authority & patriotism”.

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13504699)

Civil servants have been told to ensure that senior cabinet ministers to be provisioned with personalised army, police & transport uniforms when making public media appearances in these areas.

Thid is to transmit “authority & patriotism”.

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13504777)

I feel sorry for Biden.
He managed to oust his own buffoon and now he has to come over here and humour ours

Originally Posted by zooterkin (Post 13504883)

Any guesses what form of transport Boris used to get to Cornwall (part of mainland UK, for those unfamiliar), to talk about climate change?

Originally Posted by Filippo Lippi (Post 13504898)

Amphibious landing craft?

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13504908)

Spitfire

Originally Posted by Lothian (Post 13504921)

Hot air 🎈

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13504953)

Trireme rowed by people on Universal Credit and Asylum Seekers, all chained to the oars.

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13505225)

The alliance between the US and the UK should be known as the "indestructible relationship", Boris Johnson has told the BBC after meeting US President Joe Biden for the first time.

He said he had "terrific" talks with Mr Biden, who has travelled to Cornwall for the G7 summit of world leaders.

Mr Johnson insisted the US president had not rebuked him over post-Brexit tensions in Northern Ireland.

However, Mr Biden is said to have "deep concern" over the situation.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-57436035


This probably means we will be at war by the end of the month.

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13506226)

It is so obvious that Boris is way out of his depth at the G7.
Incoherent, bumbling and lacking in any substance or statesmanship.
It's embarrassing how far we have fallen as a world power, all because of Tory infighting, greed and elitism.

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13505225)

T
Mr Johnson insisted the US president had not rebuked him over post-Brexit tensions in Northern Ireland.

However, Mr Biden is said to have "deep concern" over the situation.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-57436035


This probably means we will be at war by the end of the month.

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13506452)

John Redwood tweeted

@johnredwood
The EU at the G7 can be represented by Germany, France and Italy, three voices. So why does the EU also get to send two EU Presidents as well? to give them a majority?

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13506226)

It is so obvious that Boris is way out of his depth at the G7.
Incoherent, bumbling and lacking in any substance or statesmanship.
It's embarrassing how far we have fallen as a world power, all because of Tory infighting, greed and elitism.

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop (Post 13505225)

The alliance between the US and the UK should be known as the "indestructible relationship", Boris Johnson has told the BBC after meeting US President Joe Biden for the first time.

He said he had "terrific" talks with Mr Biden, who has travelled to Cornwall for the G7 summit of world leaders.

Mr Johnson insisted the US president had not rebuked him over post-Brexit tensions in Northern Ireland.

However, Mr Biden is said to have "deep concern" over the situation.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-57436035


This probably means we will be at war by the end of the month.

Originally Posted by Lothian (Post 13500954)

Given politicians propensity to jump on big sporting occasions I can't wait for 18 June and the

Northern Devolved Administration v South and Eastern Non-Devolved Territories

European Football Championship group match.

Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim (Post 13501153)

Guess who's thrown her hat in the ring to run the NHS when the current head steps down?

If you guessed "Dido Harding", then you'd be right. Given what a right royal expensive ****-up track & trace was, if she gets the job it'll be pure corruption. It'd need an investigation by the anti-corruption tsar. Who is *checks notes* Dido Harding's husband.