UK Reportedly Axes Construction of New National Flagship to Save Money
With the rock of Gibraltar in the background, Britain’s Royal Navy ship HMS Westminster sails along the Gibraltar stretch near to La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain, Monday, Aug. 19, 2013. The British government said it is considering taking Spain to court if it does not ease border checks on traffic entering the disputed enclave of Gibraltar. Spain has long laid claim to Gibraltar, and the tiny territory on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula is the source of occasional diplomatic friction between Madrid and London. The latest spat involved an artificial reef being built in Gibraltar that Spain said is hurting its fishermen. It also floated the idea of charging people entering and leaving Gibraltar 50 euros ($66) to provide compensation for the losses that the fishermen face. 
MOSCOW, (Sputnik) – The new UK government has abandoned plans to build a new national flagship for the Royal Navy to cut budget spending, a British media outlet reported on Sunday, citing a senior government source.In 2021, UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said that his ministry would commission the construction of the new national flagship, which would cost up to 250 million pounds ($290 million). The vessel was expected to become the “jewel in the crown” of the national shipbuilding strategy and a “floating embassy” to promote the UK’s diplomatic and trading interests in coastal capitals around the world.”The national flagship… will not be going ahead any time soon. The Prime Minister’s team have identified it as non-essential and therefore it is off the list in order to make savings,” the source told the newspaper.
‘Below the Waterline’: UK Gov’t Report Warns Royal Navy Faces ‘Significant Risk’ in Upcoming Decade14 December 2021, 11:09 GMTOver the past months, the sanctions imposed by the West on Russia in retaliation for its military operation in Ukraine sent energy prices soaring and triggered record-high inflation in some countries. In the UK, the rising cost of living hit millions of households, sparking nationwide discontent and pushing several major unions to strike. In addition, the UK has experienced political turmoil, losing two prime ministers and facing dozens of resignations in the government within the last four months.
