Royal Yacht Britannia successor scrapped: Boris' flagship idea sunk by Rishi Sunak

7 November 2022, 15:39 | Updated: 7 November 2022, 16:23

Plans have been scrapped.
Plans have been scrapped. Picture: Alamy

By Emma Soteriou

Plans to build a new "national flagship" have been terminated with immediate effect, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has confirmed.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The £250 million scheme was abandoned as part of a squeeze on government spending, with Whitehall bracing for cuts in the November 17 Autumn Statement.

The plan was championed by Boris Johnson when he was PM but faced criticism from MPs at a time when there were other priorities for defence spending.

The Commons Defence Committee warned in 2021 that there was "no evidence of the advantage to the Royal Navy of acquiring the national flagship" and that the initial expenditure would pile extra pressure on the senior service.

Read more: Reparations row hits Cop27: UK 'open to negotiations' on hefty climate payments to poorer nations, despite cuts at home

Read more: Andrew 'reduced to sobbing' after Charles told him he would not work as a royal again and couldn't wear uniform

An artist's impression of a new national flagship
An artist's impression of a new national flagship. Picture: Downing Street

Mr Wallace told MPs he was prioritising the procurement of the multi-role ocean surveillance ship (MROSS) instead of the flagship.

"In the face of the Russian illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and (Vladimir) Putin's reckless disregard of international arrangements designed to keep world order, it is right that we prioritise delivering capabilities which safeguard our national infrastructure," he said.

That meant he had "also directed the termination of the national flagship competition with immediate effect to bring forward the first MROSS ship in its place".

Mr Wallace told MPs the MROSS would "protect sensitive defence infrastructure and civil infrastructure" and "improve our ability to detect threats to the seabed and cables".

Shadow defence secretary John Healey welcomed the news that the "previous prime minister's vanity project" has been scrapped and the spending switched to "purposes that will help defend the country".

The Royal Yacht Britannia Royal Yacht Britannia ship moored in Leith Harbour, Edinburgh
The Royal Yacht Britannia Royal Yacht Britannia ship moored in Leith Harbour, Edinburgh. Picture: Alamy

The successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia had been expected to be made in the UK and take to the water in 2024 or 2025.

It was initially planned to be used for trade talks and was going to be named after the late Prince Philip.

Philip was involved in the design of the original Royal Yacht Britannia alongside the Queen and was a keen sailing enthusiast.

When the ship was decommissioned, furniture from the State Dining Room was placed in Frogmore House in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The Duke had a special Britannia room.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Rick Buckler

Rick Buckler, drummer of The Jam, dies aged 69 - former bandmate Paul Weller confirms

Kitchen knives on a magnetic bar holder on the wall

Round-edged blades safer alternatives than sharp-pointed kitchen knives, research shows - in bid to tackle knife crime

A large sinkhole has forced the closure of the high street in the Surrey village of Godstone

Homes evacuated and major incident declared after 65ft sinkhole appears in Surrey village

Lydia Mugambe

United Nations judge forced woman to work as slave after tricking her to come to UK, court hears

Craig and Lindsay Foreman

Did motorbike couple's 'happiness' survey prompt arrest on spying charges in Iran?

Abdirahman Ibrahim has been convicted of murder after driving into the back of Liam Jones

Killer driver mows down e-bike rider to 'teach him lesson' for doing wheelies

The Vatican says Pope Francis is being treated for 'bilateral pneumonia'

New scans show Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs but Vatican says he remains ‘in good spirits’

Meghan

Meghan Markle could face 'legal action' from Spanish town as her new luxury brand logo faces resemblance to coat of arms

The father of murdered schoolgirl Sara Sharif is reportedly being protected by a 'Muslim gang'

Sara Sharif's father protected by 'Muslim gang' in jail after being attacked with jagged tuna lid

Zhenhao Zou is accused of raping three women in London and 7 in China, whilst they were unconscious

PhD student 'discussed rape role-play' with alleged victim, trial hears

Exclusive
Senior Tories including Suella Braverman and Michael Gove have criticised the judge's comments

Senior Tories blast 'out of touch' judge for 'ludicrous attack' on Starmer’s migrant remarks

Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, died in an airstrike, Hamas said

Bodies of youngest Israeli hostage Kfir Bibas and his brother and mother to be handed over as family ‘in turmoil’

Lisa Smith, 43, was with a female friend when she was killed outside the Three Horseshoes pub in Knockholt, Kent

Man suspected of fatally shooting wife outside pub on Valentine's Day rang friend and said 'she's dead'

Carry On legend Julian Holloway dies aged 80

Carry On legend Julian Holloway dies aged 80 after 'brief illness' as tributes pour in

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned 'any appearance by armed forces under some other flag' in Ukraine would be 'completely unacceptable', in a dig at a peace plan floated by Keir Starmer.

Keir Starmer’s Ukraine peacekeeping plan ‘completely unacceptable’, Russia tells US in Saudi Arabia talks

Rita Lambourne, 58, was “fatally wounded” at her home in Bayencourt South, Bexhill

Man charged with axe murder of woman in own home