Geoffers
It has been many years since I did SAR, but I did do it for some time. At no point going out the door on a "job" did I or any of my colleagues think, "time to go subsidise the military
PR machine". Your remark is crass and insulting to the many dedicated people who currently fly in the military SAR organisation.
That aside, I have had no dog in this fight for several years, all I would like to see is the people who risk their lives doing this job, being properly resourced, and with capability and coverage enhanced not reduced. I don't care whether it is the RNLI (for whom I have the greatest admiration), the military, a commercial operator or any combination of the above. What I do care about is that it should be properly funded.
Enough money was found to save those idiots who run the banks, you wouldn't think it would be such a big ask to find the funds for a national helicopter rescue service!!