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| Queen's jubilee yacht proposal rejected | Queen's jubilee yacht proposal rejected |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A suggestion by Education Secretary Michael Gove that the Queen should be given a new publicly-funded royal yacht to mark her Diamond Jubilee has been rejected by Downing Street. | |
| The cabinet minister made the proposal in a letter to Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, obtained by the Guardian. | The cabinet minister made the proposal in a letter to Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, obtained by the Guardian. |
| No10 said it would not be "appropriate to use public money at this time", but a source also said the idea of a yacht had not been dismissed entirely. | |
| Labour said Mr Gove was "out of touch". | |
| Mr Gove said the Queen's "highly significant contribution" to Britain and the Commonwealth should be recognised with a "lasting legacy". | Mr Gove said the Queen's "highly significant contribution" to Britain and the Commonwealth should be recognised with a "lasting legacy". |
| He wrote: "In spite, and perhaps because of the austere times, the celebration should go beyond those of previous jubilees and mark the greater achievement that the diamond anniversary represents. | He wrote: "In spite, and perhaps because of the austere times, the celebration should go beyond those of previous jubilees and mark the greater achievement that the diamond anniversary represents. |
| "Events such as proms and the party at the palace organised for the Diamond Jubilee, and street parties, although excellent, are transient. | |
| "It would be appropriate to do something that will mark the significance of this occasion with fitting ceremony. | "It would be appropriate to do something that will mark the significance of this occasion with fitting ceremony. |
| "My suggestion would be a gift from the nation to Her Majesty; thinking about David Willetts's excellent suggestion of a royal yacht, and something tangible to commemorate this momentous occasion." | |
| But in an official response from Downing Street, the prime minister's spokesman said: "Clearly there's a difficult economic situation. | |
| "There are scarce public resources. Therefore we do not think it would be appropriate to use public money at this time." | "There are scarce public resources. Therefore we do not think it would be appropriate to use public money at this time." |
| A source later told the BBC that the prime minister was interested in the idea of building a new royal yacht. | |
| "There are lots of independent people out there with various ideas that we are looking at," a Downing Street source said. | |
| "It is wrong to say there is definitely not going to be a royal yacht - we are in discussions. | |
| "There are lots of independent ideas out there, but it is right that we wouldn't want it cost the taxpayer money." | |
| However, the source could not say which government department was involved, who the idea was being discussed with and how far it had progressed. "This is very, very premature," the source said. | |
| The last royal yacht, Britannia, served the Queen for 44 years, carrying her and the Royal Family on 968 official voyages before being taken out of service in 1997. | The last royal yacht, Britannia, served the Queen for 44 years, carrying her and the Royal Family on 968 official voyages before being taken out of service in 1997. |
| The ship, currently in dry dock undergoing repairs, is now a tourist attraction in Edinburgh. | The ship, currently in dry dock undergoing repairs, is now a tourist attraction in Edinburgh. |
| In his letter, Mr Gove also said the Diamond Jubilee celebrations should not be outshone by the London Olympic Games. | In his letter, Mr Gove also said the Diamond Jubilee celebrations should not be outshone by the London Olympic Games. |
| "The Diamond Jubilee must not be overshadowed by the Olympic Games, but form an integral part of this great year for our country," he said. | |
| Economic climate | Economic climate |
| Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he did not agree with the idea of the taxpayer funding a new royal yacht. | Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he did not agree with the idea of the taxpayer funding a new royal yacht. |
| "I think most people in the country would think the Diamond Jubilee is a wonderful occasion for us to celebrate together as a community and as a nation. | "I think most people in the country would think the Diamond Jubilee is a wonderful occasion for us to celebrate together as a community and as a nation. |
| "But I suspect most people in the country would think that given there's very little money around, this probably wouldn't be at the top of their list of priorities for the use of scarce public resources." | "But I suspect most people in the country would think that given there's very little money around, this probably wouldn't be at the top of their list of priorities for the use of scarce public resources." |
| Labour Party deputy chairman Tom Watson said: "We're all looking forward to the Diamond Jubilee. The significance of the occasion should be celebrated across the country. | Labour Party deputy chairman Tom Watson said: "We're all looking forward to the Diamond Jubilee. The significance of the occasion should be celebrated across the country. |
| "But Michael Gove has shown he is out of touch with this proposal. When school budgets are being slashed, parents will be wondering how Gove came even to suggest this idea. This is not the time to spend £60m on a yacht." | "But Michael Gove has shown he is out of touch with this proposal. When school budgets are being slashed, parents will be wondering how Gove came even to suggest this idea. This is not the time to spend £60m on a yacht." |
| A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said the palace had made it clear that the Diamond Jubilee celebrations should reflect the current economic climate. |