Volcano affected repatriation vote grabber

[james_tigerwoods]

Just had a quick scan and didn't see this posted, but this story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8628878.stm

Made me shout at the radio this morning - yes, I know it's unfortunate, tragic and inconvenient that there are loads of people trapped abroad, but the story about the government, COBRA and Gordon Brown becoming involved in the repatriation of UK citizens being trapped abroad and using the Navy to help them seemed like a inopportune attempt at popularism and vote grabbing.

Or am I too cynical?

[jmorgan]

Dunkirk II.


So, was winky seen around eflabaljababellkelly with a big cork?

[Puggit]

Sending one gunboat to Bilbao to pick up a handful of errant tourists is nothing but a vote grabber.

There's diddly squat that Brown can do to get the 100s of 1000s of stranded people home - apart from getting the airspace open again!

[Diderot]

I'm sure it's more of a risk to Winky to get these ppl back in time to vote.

[james_tigerwoods]

Just seen a BBC headline:

BBC News said:

ASH CLOUD:Gordon Brown confirms Navy will help rescue stranded British people abroad

Great use of highly trained Navy personnel....

[scorp]

james_tigerwoods said:

Just seen a BBC headline:

BBC News said:

ASH CLOUD:Gordon Brown confirms Navy will help rescue stranded British people abroad

Great use of highly trained Navy personnel....

What's so bad about it? They get a kind of evacuation scenario training ?

[james_tigerwoods]

scorp said:

james_tigerwoods said:

Just seen a BBC headline:

BBC News said:

ASH CLOUD:Gordon Brown confirms Navy will help rescue stranded British people abroad

Great use of highly trained Navy personnel....

What's so bad about it? They get a kind of evacuation scenario training ?

I'm just now sure how they Navy are going to bring home 100,000 people...

[Diderot]

james_tigerwoods said:

scorp said:

james_tigerwoods said:

Just seen a BBC headline:

BBC News said:

ASH CLOUD:Gordon Brown confirms Navy will help rescue stranded British people abroad

Great use of highly trained Navy personnel....

What's so bad about it? They get a kind of evacuation scenario training ?

I'm just now sure how they Navy are going to bring home 100,000 people...

And from all over the world too.

[james_tigerwoods]

And the headline will be:

Political Headline said:

We helped you all to get home, the opposition didn't

[Funk]

Winky's really desperate to win over floating voters..

[Xaero]

How does one get on these free navy cruises home? I trained in the Navy so could fix some stuff if they are willing to bring me back from Oz.





Still not going to vote for Brown though.

[jmorgan]

Oh boy. Matey Wheever being interviewed on the BBC 24 discussing the RN boats going out and where to. Saying "yeah, they can carry lots". So, no silly scenes will be seen at these ports then?


Wonder if they will play "in the navy" on the way back?

[Funk]

You'll probably have to show your voting slip with a tick next to the Labour candidate as your boarding pass.

[NoNeed]

If people can't get back, how are the illegals still getting in?

[Bill]

jmorgan said:

Dunkirk II.

Winky's Salvation.

Coming soon to a cinema near you

[Stevenj214]

No idea of the logistics/feasibility of it, but the idea did cross my mind a couple of days ago.

[madbadger]

Funk said:

Winky's really desperate to win over floating voters..

They're not floating yet.

[Mr E Driver]

I heard on the news that they are sending HMS Ark Royal, Albion and Ocean http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8628878.stm
They can pick up around 1000 each but it's going to take a couple of days to get them fitted and in the right place before they can set sail.




I get the feeling the government would have not done this if there was no election to fight

[fido]

Bill said:

jmorgan said:

Dunkirk II.

Winky's Salvation.

Coming soon to a cinema near you

Or 'Saving Private Passengers'.

[Davel]

Sounds like the airports will be open again before the ships even sail.