Boris Johnson to spend £200m on new national flagship
PM says new ship-of-state would promote British trade and industry around the world and be successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Boris Johnson has announced that he plans to spend £200m on a new national flagship that could be used to host trade fairs, ministerial summits and diplomatic talks.
The plans come as Britain attempts to build relationships abroad and boost exports following Brexit.
A name for the new ship has not been announced but Johnson is under pressure to name it after the Duke of Edinburgh, who played a role in the design of the Royal Yacht Britannia which was decommissioned in 1997.
Johnson said: “This new national flagship will be the first vessel of its kind in the world, reflecting the UK’s burgeoning status as a great, independent maritime trading nation.”
The ship would be built in the UK and crewed by the Royal Navy, and could enter service within four years.
The Labour shadow treasury chief secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said: “Right now our country faces huge challenges, and there’s no sign the government has a plan for the recovery.
“We want to see public money used for targeted investment in a green economic recovery, resources for our NHS, and supporting families to succeed.”
