Complete Insanity.....

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

One of Britain's new £2bn aircraft carriers could be sold off under cost-cutting plans being considered by the Ministry of Defence. India has lodged a firm expression of interest, the Observer has learned.

The sale of one of the two 65,000-tonne vessels would leave the Royal Navy with a single carrier and could force Britain to borrow from the French fleet, which itself has only one carrier and is reluctant to build more. Last summer the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, proposed to Gordon Brown that the two navies co-ordinate maintenance and refitting so that one was at sea at all times.

According to senior defence sources, Whitehall officials are examining the feasibility of a sale as part of the strategic defence review that will start early next year and is expected to result in savage cuts.

The carrier programme has already been delayed by two years to push back spending commitments, which itself will end up costing the taxpayer more in the long run. BAE Systems began work in July on HMS Queen Elizabeth, which is due to come into service in 2016. Preparatory work on the Prince of Wales, due for launch in 2018, has also started. The two carriers will replace the ageing Invincible class and are three times the size.

There were fears that the government could scrap one altogether. But it is understood that the financial penalties would be prohibitive. About 10,000 jobs in Portsmouth, Barrow-in-Furness, Fife and Glasgow depend on the orders.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/15/mod-may-sell-carrier

Absolute madness.

We waste BILLIONS paying benefits to those who could work, and risk the safety of the nation by cutting vital defence projects instead of cutting benefits like we should.

:mad:

leveller2911

I agree partly , The Government(which ever one we have) should decide on whether we are going to continue to "Punch above our weight" on the international stage or we invest more in our young people,take care of our elderly and start manufacturing again and create jobs and eventually wealth........I know which I prefer..... We need security but that starts and ends at OUR borders and NOT half way round the world being America,s b1tch......

nearlynew

And what about the billions wasted propping up the housing market McTittish?

Is that ok?

Intastella

Do you really think that the money saved on benefits would be spent on kitting out the armed forces, or anything else for that matter? Money is not moved from it to AN Other budget. Savings are made but not then transferred. The biggest 'take' from the public purse is tax evasion and tax dodging. The amount of money 'fraudulently' claimed is absolutely dwarfed by the amount of money secreted away in tax dodges/evasion whether that's income tax, corporation tax, unpaid overtime etc...

kabayiri

Ahem, have you noticed that the aircraft designed for these new aircraft carriers, the Joint Strike Fighter, has suffered more delays before entering into service.

We could end up with these carriers sailing around without the one thing which gives an 'Aircraft Carrier' it's unique edge

carolt

Or bailing out the banks.

amcluesent

'Shroud waving' by the MOD to whip-up public support for 'our boys' and keep the 'cost plus' gravy train of defence procurement going a bit longer.

Main Building pen-pushers are where the cuts need to be coming.

BTW, it's already all been decided by Brussels eurocrats that EU member's armed forced will be merged into units of an EU army/air-force/navy. Lisbon treaty and all that, doncha know...

McKneff

On the MSN news there is an article where someone has served time for manslaughter, we have flown them at our expense back to their own country
and gave them £4.5k to get their lives sorted. Now thats insance.

mvengemvenge

nearlynew wrote: »

And what about the billions wasted propping up the housing market McTittish?

Is that ok?

It makes me laugh when the BTL landlords on here rail against all the benefit scroungers, when Housing Benefit paid to those very same landlords is probably the biggest benefit currently being paid out.

I look forward to them coming on here and declaring that for the good of the country, they'll forgo any Housing Benefit payments and fund their properties some other way when their tenants are out of work.

Have any studies actually been done on the proportion of private tenants in the uk who are in receipt of benefits? I'd be interested to see them.

leveller2911

Intastella wrote: »

Do you really think that the money saved on benefits would be spent on kitting out the armed forces, or anything else for that matter? Money is not moved from it to AN Other budget. Savings are made but not then transferred. The biggest 'take' from the public purse is tax evasion and tax dodging. The amount of money 'fraudulently' claimed is absolutely dwarfed by the amount of money secreted away in tax dodges/evasion whether that's income tax, corporation tax, unpaid overtime etc...

We have never been taxed more than we are now.I don't begrudge anyone getting a few hours overtime and not paying tax on it.At least theyre working and paying into the system in the first place......

Stealth taxes and more stealth taxes.........Don't knock the tax payers, knock the long term ,lazy dole scroungers(not the genuine ones)and MP,s

" Secreting away supposed Tax money" isn't stolen its just not paid......

I would agree if someone charges VAT to a customer and doesn't forward that money to HMRC then thats stealing ....Theres a big difference:rolleyes:

zappahey

leveller2911 wrote: »

We have never been taxed more than we are now.

Do you have a reference for that?