Michael Gove has brushed aside Britain's economic problems to propose the public donate a new royal yacht to the Queen as a mark of respect during this year's diamond jubilee celebrations, according to a confidential letter to fellow ministers.

In the letter, which has been sent to Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary and minister overseeing the celebrations, and to the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, Gove at one point comes close to suggesting that Britain's dire economic climate means that a large-scale celebration is required to lift the country's spirits.

The education secretary writes: "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."

The Liberal Democrats privately expressed surprise at the proposal, which is likely to cost at least £60m, at a time of national austerity.

Meanwhile Tom Watson, the Labour party vice-chairman, said: "When school budgets are being slashed, parents will be wondering how Gove came even to suggest this idea."

Gove, an enthusiastic monarchist, writes in the letter: "I feel strongly that the diamond jubilee gives us a tremendous opportunity to recognise in a very fitting way the Queen's highly significant contribution to the life of the nation and the Commonwealth."

Words fail me.

This idea needs to be killed off, very quickly. Otherwise, some pillock will commission a feasibility study that will cost us more than the bloody boat.

Looking hopeful.... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16578231

If the Royals want a new boat for jollies and tarting about the place on, then they can put their hands in their own [LIFTED] pockets and pay for it all themselves.

If the Royals want a new boat for jollies and tarting about the place on, then they can put their hands in their own [LIFTED] pockets and pay for it all themselves.

If the Royals want a new boat for jollies and tarting about the place on, then they can put their hands in their own [LIFTED] pockets and pay for it all themselves.

You do realise they (the royals) were not asking for a yacht. Your reply does suggest that they have.

You do realise they (the royals) were not asking for a yacht. Your reply does suggest that they have.

An opinion on the radio discussion I heard this morning was that Gove is rather unlikely to have just come off with his own bat. It's not really the place of the Education secretary to get involved in. But Gove is known to be very sympathetic to the Royal family. There was some kerfuffle not so long ago about some members of the royal household - particularly Prince Charles - having an awful lot of 'private briefings' which weren't being publicised at all. Some of the minutes of those briefings brought into some question who was briefing who. Given this and given the yacht would take several years to build and outfit, which probably means Charles would get much more use out of it than his mother would because as sprightly as she may be, Liz isn't going to be up to long foreign trips for much longer, well you follow the dots...

Jon

and you end up with a massive tinfoilhat.