Blair Force One again
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i wouldnt say that it was actually an "overwhelming majority"..........and 80 million quid could be put to a much better use.....tony could get say.... a nice second hand castle for that <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
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Sirwa, I'm with you all the way. The small-minded doomsayers who continually insist that we are a small, irrelevant country with no place on the world stage really ought to get their heads out of the sand.. .Tony Blair, whatever his personal qualities, is the elected Prime Minister of the world's fourth largest economy. This economy, more than any other in the world, is founded on international trade which, in no small part, is influenced by perceived prestige and national confidence. The VC10 as the official long-range air transport is surely well past its sell-by date. As one of the PM's (or any national representative's) tasks is to showcase and promote our industrial products to the potential customers around the world, it is surely entirely appropriate that the UK should be showing off one of Airbus' current production aircraft. It is also appropriate that our national leader, or senior members of our government, should get an enhanced level of protection from those who would wish to harm them, so the aircrsft should carry at least the level of protective equipment that the VC10 does.. .Perhaps some of the nay-sayers would prefer we had the international clout and respect of, say, Rwanda or similar?
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Itīs about time the UK is getting a halfway decent government aircraft !
The UK is regarded by the rest of Europe as one giant open air museum. VC10īs ! <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> Ba146 ! <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> Gimme a break !
Any money spend on large private jets or expensive cars is MONEY WELL SPEND ! Europe is so far behind the US regarding these issues. <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">
I heard the Chinese might have a VIP 763 for sale... <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
The UK is regarded by the rest of Europe as one giant open air museum. VC10īs ! <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> Ba146 ! <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> Gimme a break !
Any money spend on large private jets or expensive cars is MONEY WELL SPEND ! Europe is so far behind the US regarding these issues. <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">
I heard the Chinese might have a VIP 763 for sale... <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
Just a numbered other
Bliar's 'huge majority' stems from about 24% of the votes which could have been cast on election day. That more britons voted for 'Pop Idol' than turned out for the General Election says a lot about us.
However, he was elected to be Her Majesty's prime minister. She is head of state (no matter what Straw says) and if anyone deserves the aeroplane, she does, not His Blairness.
However, he was elected to be Her Majesty's prime minister. She is head of state (no matter what Straw says) and if anyone deserves the aeroplane, she does, not His Blairness.
Uncle Pete
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Perhaps a "mini-airline" could be formed so that the Royal Family, Tony and the Cronies as well as the captains of industry could all pay for their flights.
The previously mentioned security devices, missile detectors etc could be fitted and perhaps you could charge a bit more that the going rate for executive jets to pay for the enhanced security.
Any profits could go back into the Treasury to support worthy causes such as the NHS.
MP <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
The previously mentioned security devices, missile detectors etc could be fitted and perhaps you could charge a bit more that the going rate for executive jets to pay for the enhanced security.
Any profits could go back into the Treasury to support worthy causes such as the NHS.
MP <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
Couldonlyaffordafiver
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Sirwa,
Labour were elected with 26% of the vote. Hardly an overwhelming majority of the country. (Perhaps an overwhelming majority of those who could be bothered to vote).
Just a thought, Blair is likely to need a A380 just for his ego! (Besides, he'd then have a bigger jet than Dubya).
Labour were elected with 26% of the vote. Hardly an overwhelming majority of the country. (Perhaps an overwhelming majority of those who could be bothered to vote).
Just a thought, Blair is likely to need a A380 just for his ego! (Besides, he'd then have a bigger jet than Dubya).
I say there boy
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'Doomsayers' ,
Labour were elected with a landslide majority under our 'first past the post' system. Whether it was 6%, 26% or 66% of the popular vote is completely immaterial.
Trying to belittle the democratically elected government of our country on the basis of a low turn-out just because you don't like their politics is a whopping fallacy - criticise the system by all means, but not the government it elected. Vote Lib Dem if you're really bothered about it (and how soon will they abandon their pet subject of electoral reform if they get voted into power under the current system?)
The elected leader of the fourth largest economy in the world should travel in a style that befits his status on the world stage. Simple. You can't have the leaders of the US, Japan, Germany, France, Italy et al. arriving at international summits in their official jets to a full red carpet treatment, and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdon arriving on a Ģ9 Ryanair flight (complete with the remains of Cherie's home-made sandwiches no doubt). What would that do to our prestige on the international stage?
It's also a fallacy to argue that because the PM isn't the head of state, he shouldn't be afforded such VIP treatment. It's well over two hundred years since the monarch stopped meddling in politics, so as our senior elected leader, the PM is representing Britain on the world stage whenever he travels whether you like it or not.
Our economy is based more upon international trade than the other big economies. We are also a major tourist destination. Our Cultural and Industrial prestige internationally really does make a difference to that. What used to be called 'showing the flag' really does make a difference for UK plc.
And no, I didn't vote for them. But I also don't run my country down just because I don't like its leader's politics.
foggy.
[ 16 February 2002: Message edited by: foghorn ]</p>
,Labour were elected with a landslide majority under our 'first past the post' system. Whether it was 6%, 26% or 66% of the popular vote is completely immaterial.
Trying to belittle the democratically elected government of our country on the basis of a low turn-out just because you don't like their politics is a whopping fallacy - criticise the system by all means, but not the government it elected. Vote Lib Dem if you're really bothered about it (and how soon will they abandon their pet subject of electoral reform if they get voted into power under the current system?)
The elected leader of the fourth largest economy in the world should travel in a style that befits his status on the world stage. Simple. You can't have the leaders of the US, Japan, Germany, France, Italy et al. arriving at international summits in their official jets to a full red carpet treatment, and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdon arriving on a Ģ9 Ryanair flight (complete with the remains of Cherie's home-made sandwiches no doubt). What would that do to our prestige on the international stage?
It's also a fallacy to argue that because the PM isn't the head of state, he shouldn't be afforded such VIP treatment. It's well over two hundred years since the monarch stopped meddling in politics, so as our senior elected leader, the PM is representing Britain on the world stage whenever he travels whether you like it or not.
Our economy is based more upon international trade than the other big economies. We are also a major tourist destination. Our Cultural and Industrial prestige internationally really does make a difference to that. What used to be called 'showing the flag' really does make a difference for UK plc.
And no, I didn't vote for them. But I also don't run my country down just because I don't like its leader's politics.
foggy.
[ 16 February 2002: Message edited by: foghorn ]</p>
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You English are quite harsh on yourselves! England is indeed a world power! and the contributions of your people and culture have shaped the western world as we know it. Blairs politics shouldn't enter into this equation, hell, we put up with Clinton for 8 long years and we let him ride in Air Force One. I'd like to see Blair choose a 777 or a 747, the 747 probably being the better choice. But if you really want to stick with the "British" option, why not Concorde for the ultimate in style and class!! But please, no Airbus's it will be down for Mx too much and the spare parts will cripple the budget!!!!
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Nobody but the Labour party elected Tony Blair Prime Minister. And if they ever get fed up with him they can kick him out - just like the Tories did with Maggie Thatcher.
If he died tomorrow he would be replaced from within the ranks of the LABOUR party.
So, no, the UK voter does not get to elect the Prime Minister - and he is not Head of State, that is the Queen regardless of her level of power or whether you like it or not.
The Prime Minister is just "Primus Inter Pares" amongst MPs, regardless of how he likes to seem to think of himself.
That's just how our system works.
If he died tomorrow he would be replaced from within the ranks of the LABOUR party.
So, no, the UK voter does not get to elect the Prime Minister - and he is not Head of State, that is the Queen regardless of her level of power or whether you like it or not.
The Prime Minister is just "Primus Inter Pares" amongst MPs, regardless of how he likes to seem to think of himself.
That's just how our system works.
