Latest news with #ConservativeGovernment
Telegraph
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Palace lobbied Downing Street for £50m Royal yacht replacement
Buckingham Palace lobbied Sir John Major's government for a £50m replacement of the Royal Yacht Britannia, newly released files suggest. Cabinet Office papers released by the National Archives reveal apparent backhanded manoeuvring by palace officials as ministers agonised over whether to order a replacement for the vessel. The files show how courtiers invited civil servants to a 'splendid lunch' on the yacht and tried to influence a speech by Sir John, then prime minister, as part of a thinly veiled campaign to replace the ship. By 1993 it was apparent that, after 39 years, Britannia was reaching the end of its life, but Sir John's Conservative government had yet to decide whether to invest in a new one. It was widely thought Queen Elizabeth II strongly favoured the commissioning of a new yacht but the Royal family could not afford to be seen to be trying to influence political decision-making. However, files released by the Archives at Kew, west London, show that senior courtiers privately approached No 10 to see if the prime minister would make a Commons statement stressing Britannia's ' inestimable value ' to the nation. The plan, which appears to be a show of support for a new yacht, was rejected by the Cabinet Office, which warned that any such comments would be highly 'prejudicial'. One senior official noted caustically that a claim by the Palace that the Queen was 'indifferent' as to the outcome of a review of the yacht's future 'hardly rings true'. The issue of a new yacht came at an extremely difficult time for both the government and the Palace, with support for the royals at a low ebb. There had been an angry public backlash the previous year when ministers announced the taxpayer would pick up the bill, which eventually ran to £36m, for the restoration of Windsor Castle following a catastrophic fire. In the aftermath of her 'annus horribilis', which also saw the separation of Charles and Diana, the Queen agreed that she would for the first time pay taxes. 'Of inestimable value to the UK' With Sir John due to announce the historic move in a statement to parliament, Sir Robert Fellows, the Queen's private secretary, saw an opportunity to secure what would amount to a show of support for a new yacht. He asked Alex Allan, the prime minister's principal private secretary, whether Sir John would insert a passage referring to the importance of Britannia as well as the Queen's flight and the royal train. He suggested the prime minister should tell MPs that it was not just a question of cost 'but also the style in which we wish our head of state and members of the royal family to represent us ' in their public duties. 'It is always difficult to put a price on prestige but I have no doubt that over the years these items have been of inestimable value to this country.' Sir Robert's proposed addition to Sir John's statement went on: 'I would also like to make clear that there is not, and never has been, any pressure from the Queen to build a replacement for HMY Britannia. 'Should the government decide it is in the national interest for the yacht to be replaced that would be of course another matter.' However, Nicolas Bevan, the official heading the working group set up to consider the future of the yacht, warned that the proposed remarks could be 'prejudicial' to any future decisions. 'For example to say that the royal yacht has been of inestimable value to this country will not be a helpful remark if ministers in due course decide not to replace Britannia,' Mr Bevan said. 'Equally it hardly rings true to suggest that it is a matter of complete indifference to the Queen as to whether Britannia is replaced or not.' 'No kind of rearguard action on the yacht' Despite the palace's protestations of neutrality, the files suggest courtiers were involved in what amounted to some none-too-subtle lobbying in favour of a new yacht. On May 13 1993, senior government officials, led by Sir Robin Butler, the cabinet secretary, were invited to a 'splendid lunch' on board Britannia where they were regaled by Sir High Bidwell, the former lord mayor of London, and the Earl of Limerick, a senior banker, on the value of the yacht to UK business. Expressing his thanks afterwards to Major General Sir Simon Cooper, the master of the Queen's household, Sir Robin noted that the setting had 'brought home the issues to those involved in a unique way'. However, when news of the meeting leaked out, government press officers were instructed to impress upon journalists that the Queen and royal family were 'not fighting any kind of rearguard action on the yacht'. Despite misgivings over the costs, the Major government finally announced in January 1997 that they would build a replacement yacht if they were returned to power in the general election later that year. The move was however widely interpreted as a desperate attempt to shore up support among wavering Tory voters, and when Labour was swept to power in a landslide they promptly reversed the decision. When Britannia was finally decommissioned, after returning the Chris Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong, following the handover to China, the Queen was seen to shed a tear. In its 43 years of service, the yacht sailed over one million nautical miles on 968 state visits with the Royal family where they entertained prime ministers and presidents. The yacht is now retired and is berthed in Leith, Edinburgh, where it is open to visitors.
The Sun
8 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
Thousands of homes at risk of mould & damp through ‘systematic failure' of government scheme – see if yours is affected
TENS of thousands of homes could be at risk of mould and damp thanks to dodgy insulation being installed through Government-backed schemes. Households were encouraged to install the measures through two Government schemes aimed at increasing energy efficiency. 1 But independent body Trustmark previously found "widespread cases of poor-quality solid wall insulation" installed in homes under the schemes. Now the Government has admitted there was a "systematic failure" that could put homes at risk of mould, damp and other serious issues. Miatta Fahnbulleh, the minister for energy consumers, said in a statement that early evidence suggests a "majority" of installations of solid wall insulation were not done "to the appropriate standard". An audit found examples of poor quality work, including inadequate ventilation or roof-line extensions. The audit is set to be completed later this summer with the results published in the autumn. The two schemes affected are the Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) and the Great British Insulation Scheme. They were launched by the previous Conservative government in April 2022 and May 2023. The schemes let eligible households apply for free energy-efficiency upgrades, including solid wall insulation, through their energy supplier or local council. They were aimed at keeping homes warmer and lowering bills for households. Solid walls - meaning they have no gaps or cavities - are usually found in properties built before the 1920s. I'm a mum-of-12, I swear by £1.15 bathroom cleaner and £3.25 mould cleaner in our busy house They can be insulated by adding a layer of material to the inside or outside to trap heat. But the initial investigation by Trustmark found: Exposed insulation or poor ventilation that could lead to damp and mould A "very small number" of properties with serious health and safety concerns, such as incorrectly fitted wiring More minor issues, such as missing or incorrect paperwork. What if I'm affected? Not all homes that had this insulation fitted will be unsafe or at risk. If it's thought you've been affected then you'll be contacted automatically by energy regulator Ofgem. The Government previously said households can expect to receive a letter from Ofgem explaining how it will check if your home is impacted. If any issues are found, you will not have to pay to get it fixed - the company that originally installed it will be required to fix it for you. If the firm has gone out of business, you should be covered by a £20,000 guarantee. Ms Fahnbulleh said: "I know this news will be concerning for people who have had external or internal wall insulation fitted through either scheme we have inherited. "That is why we are taking action to put this right, forcing installers to fix any poor-quality installations as soon as possible and at their own expense. "Affected households should look out for a letter from Ofgem, which will set out steps to resolve any issues." How else can I insulate my home? There are plenty of other safe ways to insulate your home. You could try adding a layer of mineral wool or sheep wool to your loft or in your roof. It costs around £900 to insulate a semi-detached home with 270mm of loft insulation, the Energy Saving Trust says. But it could save you around £230 a year, meaning you would make the cost back in around three years. Avoid getting spray foam insulation installed as this could actually damage your home and make it difficult to sell. You can also draught-proof your windows and doors yourself on the cheap to prevent heat escaping to save around £40 a year. A roll of draught insulation tape costs around £5, or you can get a professional in for around £250. Inefficient boilers can also cost you money on your energy bills.
The Independent
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
How Buckingham Palace lobbied government for a new royal yacht
Newly released official files reveal Buckingham Palace 's discreet attempts to influence the Conservative government's decision on replacing the Royal Yacht Britannia in 1993. Despite public claims of neutrality, senior courtiers privately urged Prime Minister John Major to issue a statement highlighting the yacht's "inestimable value" to secure support for a new £50 million vessel. Cabinet Office officials rejected this lobbying, warning such comments would be "highly prejudicial" and expressing scepticism about the Queen's asserted "indifference" to the yacht's future. The Palace's efforts included a "splendid lunch" on board Britannia for senior government officials, aimed at showcasing the yacht's value to UK business. Although the Major government eventually pledged a replacement if re-elected in 1997, the incoming Labour government reversed the decision, leading to Britannia's decommissioning and the Queen's visible emotion.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Records reveal how Palace tried to secure show of support for a new royal yacht
Backstairs manoeuvring by Buckingham Palace officials as ministers agonised over whether to order a replacement for the Royal Yacht Britannia is laid bare in newly released official files. By 1993 it was apparent that, after 39 years, Britannia was reaching the end of its life, but John Major's Conservative government had yet to decide whether to invest in a new yacht at an estimated cost of £50 million. It was widely thought Queen Elizabeth II strongly favoured the commissioning of a new yacht but the royal family could not afford to be seen to be trying to influence political decision-making. However files released by the National Archives at Kew, west London, show that senior courtiers privately approached No 10 to see if the prime minister would make a Commons statement stressing Britannia's 'inestimable value' to the nation. But the plan – which amounted to a thinly veiled show of support for a new yacht – was scotched by the Cabinet Office, which warned that any such comments would be highly 'prejudicial'. One senior official noted caustically that a claim by the Palace that the Queen was 'indifferent' as to the outcome of a review of the yacht's future 'hardly rings true'. The issue of a new yacht came at an extremely difficult time for the government and for the Palace, with support for the royals at a low ebb. There had been an angry public backlash the previous year when ministers announced the taxpayer would pick up the bill – which eventually ran to £36 million – for the restoration of Windsor Castle following a catastrophic fire. In the aftermath of her 'annus horribilis' – which also saw the separation of Charles and Diana – the Queen agreed that she would for the first time pay taxes. With Mr Major due to announce the historic move in a statement to parliament, the Queen's private secretary Sir Robert Fellowes saw an opportunity to secure what would amount to a show of support for a new yacht. He asked the prime minister's principal private secretary Alex Allan if Mr Major would insert a passage referring to the importance of Britannia as well as the Queen's flight and the royal train. He suggested the prime minister should tell MPs that it was not just a question of cost 'but also the style in which we wish our head of state and members of the royal family to represent us' in their public duties. 'It is always difficult to put a price on prestige but I have no doubt that over the years these items have been of inestimable value to this country.' Sir Robin's proposed addition to Mr Major's statement went on: 'I would also like to make clear that there is not, and never has been, any pressure from the Queen to build a replacement for HMY Britannia. 'Should the government decide it is in the national interest for the yacht to be replaced that would be of course another matter.' However, Nicolas Bevan, the official heading the working group set up to consider the future of the yacht, warned that the proposed remarks could be 'prejudicial' to any future decisions. 'For example to say that the royal yacht has been of inestimable value to this country will not be a helpful remark if ministers in due course decide not to replace Britannia,' he said. 'Equally it hardly rings true to suggest that it is a matter of complete indifference to the Queen as to whether Britannia is replaced or not.' Despite the palace's protestations of neutrality, the files suggest courtiers were involved in what amounted to some none too subtle lobbying on behalf of a new yacht. On May 13 1993, senior government officials, led by the cabinet secretary Sir Robin Butler, were invited to a 'splendid lunch' on board Britannia where they were regaled by the former lord mayor of London, Sir Hugh Bidwell, and the Earl of Limerick, a senior banker, on the value of the yacht to UK business. Expressing his thanks afterwards to the master of the Queen's household, Major General Sir Simon Cooper, Sir Robin noted that the setting had 'brought home the issues to those involved in a unique way'. However, when news of the meeting leaked out, government press officers were instructed to impress upon journalists – unattributably – that the Queen and royal family were 'not fighting any kind of rearguard action on the yacht'. Despite misgivings over the costs, the Major government finally announced in January 1997 that they would build a replacement yacht if they were returned to power in the general election later that year. The move was however widely interpreted as a desperate attempt to shore up support among wavering Tory voters, and when Labour was swept to power in a landslide they promptly reversed the decision. When Britannia was finally decommissioned – after returning the last governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, following the handover to China – the Queen, who rarely displayed any emotion in public, was seen to shed a tear.
The Independent
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
New documents reveal behind-the-scenes Palace plot to replace royal yacht Britannia
Newly released official files have shared discreet manoeuvring by Buckingham Palace officials to influence the government's decision on replacing the Royal Yacht Britannia. By 1993, the 39-year-old royal vessel was nearing the end of its operational life, prompting John Major 's Conservative government to consider a significant £50 million investment in a new yacht. It was widely believed that Queen Elizabeth II strongly favoured the commissioning of a new yacht, but the Royal Family was keen to avoid any public appearance of political interference. However, documents from the National Archives at Kew reveal how senior courtiers privately approached Downing Street. Their aim was to persuade the then Prime Minister to issue a Commons statement highlighting Britannia's "inestimable value" to the nation. This thinly veiled attempt to garner support for a new vessel was swiftly rejected by the Cabinet Office, with officials warning that any such comments would be "highly prejudicial". One senior official caustically remarked that the Palace's assertion of the Queen's "indifference" regarding the yacht's future "hardly rings true". The issue of a new yacht came at an extremely difficult time for the government and for the Palace, with support for the royals at a low ebb. There had been an angry public backlash the previous year when ministers announced the taxpayer would pick up the bill – which eventually ran to £36 million – for the restoration of Windsor Castle following a catastrophic fire. In the aftermath of her 'annus horribilis' – which also saw the separation of Charles and Diana – the Queen agreed that she would for the first time pay taxes. With Mr Major due to announce the historic move in a statement to parliament, the Queen's private secretary Sir Robert Fellowes saw an opportunity to secure what would amount to a show of support for a new yacht. He asked the prime minister's principal private secretary Alex Allan if Mr Major would insert a passage referring to the importance of Britannia as well as the Queen's flight and the royal train. He suggested the prime minister should tell MPs that it was not just a question of cost 'but also the style in which we wish our head of state and members of the royal family to represent us' in their public duties. 'It is always difficult to put a price on prestige but I have no doubt that over the years these items have been of inestimable value to this country.' Sir Robin's proposed addition to Mr Major's statement went on: 'I would also like to make clear that there is not, and never has been, any pressure from the Queen to build a replacement for HMY Britannia. 'Should the government decide it is in the national interest for the yacht to be replaced that would be of course another matter.' However, Nicolas Bevan, the official heading the working group set up to consider the future of the yacht, warned that the proposed remarks could be 'prejudicial' to any future decisions. 'For example to say that the royal yacht has been of inestimable value to this country will not be a helpful remark if ministers in due course decide not to replace Britannia,' he said. 'Equally it hardly rings true to suggest that it is a matter of complete indifference to the Queen as to whether Britannia is replaced or not.' Despite the palace's protestations of neutrality, the files suggest courtiers were involved in what amounted to some not-so-subtle lobbying on behalf of a new yacht. On 13 May, 1993, senior government officials, led by the cabinet secretary Sir Robin Butler, were invited to a 'splendid lunch' on board Britannia where they were regaled by the former lord mayor of London, Sir Hugh Bidwell, and the Earl of Limerick, a senior banker, on the value of the yacht to UK business. Expressing his thanks afterwards to the master of the Queen's household, Major General Sir Simon Cooper, Sir Robin noted that the setting had 'brought home the issues to those involved in a unique way'. However, when news of the meeting leaked out, government press officers were instructed to impress upon journalists – unattributably – that the Queen and royal family were 'not fighting any kind of rearguard action on the yacht'. Despite misgivings over the costs, the Major government finally announced in January 1997 that they would build a replacement yacht if they were returned to power in the general election later that year. The move was however widely interpreted as a desperate attempt to shore up support among wavering Tory voters, and when Labour was swept to power in a landslide they promptly reversed the decision. When Britannia was finally decommissioned – after returning the last governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, following the handover to China – the Queen, who rarely displayed any emotion in public, was seen to shed a tear.
