FOREIGN BEST

THIS week a new liner was launched by Queen Elizabeth II at Southampton named after the British monarch. Unfortunately, the liner is not very British despite its distinguished name. It was built in Italy and is owned by the Americans. Has Britain´s self esteem sunk so low that now the British monarch is willing to christen a foreign owned vessel built by a foreign shipyard?

The vessel is registered in Britain but that is the end of the story. Surely, Britain´s remaining shipbuilders have something to say about a cruise ship named after their Queen being built abroad? The last two “Queens” were built in Britain. The sad truth is that Britain is unable to build vessels of this size any longer with shipbuilding all but disappearing across the country. But the question must be asked is why Italian, German and French shipbuilders still operate and in Britain most of the shipbuilders have gone into administration? Until Britain starts taking pride again its is engineering achievements its manufacturing base is going to continue to decline quite dramatically. The few remaining shipbuilders should be deeply angry at the Queen Elizabeth affair and they should make their thoughts known to all.