UK drops plans for £250m national flagship yacht

The authorities has shelved plans for a nationalist flagship yacht to beforehand the UK abroad, the defence caput has announced.

Ben Wallace told MPs a contention to physique the vessel, estimated to outgo up to £250m, had been terminated.

It was commissioned by erstwhile PM Boris Johnson past twelvemonth to big commercialized fairs and diplomatic events.

Mr Wallace said the UK wanted to prioritise water surveillance ships instead.

The vessel, which was ne'er fixed a name, would person succeeded the Royal Yacht Britannia, which was retired successful 1997 aft 44 years successful service.

It was primitively meant to outgo £150m erstwhile archetypal announced, but Mr Wallace past twelvemonth enactment the terms astatine betwixt £200m and £250m.