Bazj Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Unfortunately not to blast the French but to collect stranded British people..... I wonder how many illegal immigrants they will collect while they are there too..... now wouldn't that be a story! Not the sort of thing a British warship should be used for in my opinion; especially when there are countless ferries traversing the route, but hey, I guess Gordon is desperate for a bit of good publicity lately! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LymmParent Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Of course British warships are appropriate for bringing home British citizens (with passports) in the event of a crisis. Clearly, all the ferries are pre-booked up - otherwise the journeys would be cancelled. It's hardly a stretch to ask a warship or two to cover the 50 miles there and back - we must have a few lurking around the South coast? It's typically British, and I say Jolly Good Show! One of my in-laws was stuck in Japan. Been flown to New York, and there the poor soul sits waiting.... maybe we should QE2 people back from there? I'd volunteer to go over and help load up!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted April 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 The QE2 is a hotel in Dubai now I believe LP..... do try and keep up!! How can all of these ferries suddenly be pre-booked when it is one of the quietest times of the year (after Easter) There are stacks of ferries plus there are the ones that run from Zebrugge, Ostend, Rotterdam, St Malo, Boulogne, Dieppe etc etc. not everything comes through Calais you know!! Brown is doing this as a stunt to boost his pathetic credibility...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 The onus is with travellers to get themselves home whatever the circumstances it is nowt to do the Government or Navy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 There's something in what your saying Baz; they're wringing every drop of kudos out of this "crisis"; with a Churchillian air of competance - and you've spotted the obvious: an ideal opportunity for every illegal immigrant to filter in with the crowd! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Broon is on TV with a picture of the Ark Royal in the background, do you think he sent the SAS in to blow up the bloody volcano. The Leigh Centurions RL team are currently travelling through Kent on the last leg of their four day trip by coach to Limoux. Guess how they got back across the Channel? By queueing up and paying to get on a ferry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Get ready for the next chapter in this saga: the bailout! No doubt the airlines and passengers that discover they can't claim on the insurance, will be wanting a tax-payer bailout! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Durnim Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Well said Lymmparent, I agree with you. Eagle, Baz J, Observer, where is your compassion for people in need of help in a crises?. British subjects have every right to expect help from the British government. Warships and the like are there to protect and serve in which ever way they can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LymmParent Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 The QE2 is a hotel in Dubai now I believe LP..... do try and keep up!! quote] She was bought by someone from Dubai with that intent, but last I heard, they'd not done anything, she was still moored up over there. However, I thank you for widdling so thoroughly over my little joke, that's a valuable lesson for me.... I should of course have said "Shall we send the P&O fleet over to get them all? The Oriana is still my favourite, but their brand new one has some excellent facilities". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Well said Lymmparent, I agree with you. Eagle, Baz J, Observer, where is your compassion for people in need of help in a crises?. British subjects have every right to expect help from the British government. Warships and the like are there to protect and serve in which ever way they can. Crisis? I hope you never have a proper crisis. It is an inconvenience to most people and it will be milked accordingly. There are no flights available that is all, we didn't fly once upon a time but guess what everyone managed to travel from all corners of the planet. Sue, stick this on your endless personal list of things that niggle, bleeding hearts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 The RN adds that extra bit of drama to the saga - Dunkirk spirit and all that. There will no doubt be umpteen empty cruise ships floating round the Med, cos those booked on them can't get to them; they could all head for blighty, drop their old passengers off, then head for Bilbao, Dunkirk etc to pick up the stranded - btw who's going to pay for all this?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LymmParent Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 We pay for RN ships to sit in port anyway; we pay for them to go and practice war games in faraway places - what's the difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Durnim Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Eagle, you must have a heart of stone? This does not sound like you after reading many of your posts? I to have been listening and watching news reports, and it is a crises, however, there are many people stranded in countries other than holidaymakers, who do not have the financial/linguistic ability to travel home other than the using the ticket from the airlines they bought in good faith. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Durnim Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 We pay for RN ships to sit in port anyway; we pay for them to go and practice war games in faraway places - what's the difference? LymmParent, totally 100% agree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Eagle, you must have a heart of stone? This does not sound like you after reading many of your posts? So you're the one who reads Eagle's posts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Durnim Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Eagle, you must have a heart of stone? This does not sound like you after reading many of your posts? So you're the one who reads Eagle's posts Surely Eagles not that bad?! or be ignored? seems full of wisdom? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Oooooh how exciting to be brought home on a huge Navy War ship... wish I was stuck in France now... lucky buggers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 That's one each for the last two posts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted April 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Of course the bloody Navy shouldn't be sent to pick up stranded holidaymakers.... it is only a few days for gods sake, we didn't have the Navy sending a battle fleet out to the US to pick up stranded flyers after the twin towers thing grounded all the planes did we? If they are there to serve as well as protect, then why do things like ambulances have big stickers on them telling us that they are not taxis? Why not? if you see that paramedic that parks up near the peace centre every night; why not knock on his window and ask him for a lift home? or maybe ask one of our lovely coppers for an escort to manchester down the outside lane with his blue lights on because you are late for a meeting? The Navy are there not to provide cut price channel crossings, but to surrender to Iraqi gunboats......... I wonder what P&O and all the other ferry companies will think of Broon sticking his oar in (every ones a winner!!) and cutting off a bit of extra cash? This is a totally cynical ploy by Brown to appear compasionate..... well it sure is lost on me. I don't see them sending the Ark Royal over to Austraila to pick up my missus who is stuck in Perth (OK, she's in a nice hotel in 25 degrees of sunshine, but that isn't the point...... I'm sure she'd love to be on a boat full of sailors for a few days!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Great PR for the gullible voters, Baz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Baz I guess you are in no rush to be reunited with your wife Only kidding of course Seriously though... if Navy ships are being used to bring people home from foreign shores then wont the people who are stranded here (who were due to fly out to the same shores) expect a lift out there if the ships are going that way anyway.. after all their holiday insurance probably wont cover their cancelled flights but their hotels will still be booked And even more seriously... what are the security implications of allowing unknown 'civilians' to board our Naval ships... will terrorists and the like be stood in line hopeing for a sneak preview Ok enough seriousness for now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 I can see the headline, "HMS Ark Royal hijacked by Somali Pirates in English Channel" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Best not to joke though eh as look where it got Baz with his April Fools joke about the Lib Dems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LymmParent Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Hands up anyone who thinks Baz isn't get enough hugs?! Grumpy is not the word for you today... Of course the RN is not there to provide a taxi service. However, there are thousands of British citizens stranded and in need of floating transport home because of a natural disaster. It would be entirely inappropriate to leave ships sitting in port whilst people struggled. Not to mention the problems their absence is causing for thousands more people here. PR stunt or not, it is a sensible solution. And let's face it, if GB had refused to do it, you'd be criticising him.... And whilst we are discussing big floaters, I have checked and the flagship of the Cunard line is currently the Queen Elizabeth, which docks in New York next week. So there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 All they have to do, is to set up a logistical chain from Spain, using coach firms and the ferries; add to this the resources of the cruise ship industry and the RN won't be needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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