Brown Abandons the One Million Britons Stranded Abroad.

[Dedworth]

Well Bottler Brown finally has pulled his finger out and done something about it - too little too late. 3 Royal Navy ships have been mobilised.

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

Cruise ships/ferries etc could have been requisitioned under emergency powers etc and sent out. My friends were on the Oriana which returned to Southampton yesterday from Brest - it's now gone off on it's scheduled Western Med cruise with 1900 punters. Their cruise should have been cancelled and the ship used to bring home those stranded.

[IainBusby]

Well Bottler Brown finally has pulled his finger out and done something about it - too little too late. 3 Royal Navy ships have been mobilised.

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

Cruise ships/ferries etc could have been requisitioned under emergency powers etc and sent out. My friends were on the Oriana which returned to Southampton yesterday from Brest - it's now gone off on it's scheduled Western Med cruise with 1900 punters. Their cruise should have been cancelled and the ship used to bring home those stranded.

I never had the slightest doubt that you would think that anything he done was wrong, too little, too much, too late, too expensive, too cheapskate or probably all of these things and others as well, because your judgement is so clouded by hatred for the man.

[Dedworth]

I never had the slightest doubt that you would think that anything he done was wrong, too little, too much, too late, too expensive, too cheapskate or probably all of these things and others as well, because your judgement is so clouded by hatred for the man.

And your reason for why this inept Govt has had it's head in the sand and done nothing for days is ?

He's as slippery as they come and will not take any action preferring to do nowt and when it is all over blame the Health And Safety Guardianista

[IainBusby]

And your reason for why this inept Govt has had it's head in the sand and done nothing for days is ?

He's as slippery as they come and will not take any action preferring to do nowt and when it is all over blame the Health And Safety Guardianista

It might have escaped your notice (maybe because the Daily Mail forgot to tell you about it) but planes have been grounded all over Europe and as far away as Ukraine and I believe that the decision to do this was taken by the relevent air traffic control bodies in each country (NATS in the UK) and has absolutely nothing to do with either government or over zealous health and safety officials.

It's OK for you moaning on about it from the safety of you armchair, but would you like to be one to make the decision to allow these planes to fly if there was even the slightest possibility that they may fly into this cloud and fall out of the sky.

[Dedworth]

It might have escaped your notice (maybe because the Daily Mail forgot to tell you about it) but planes have been grounded all over Europe and as far away as Ukraine and I believe that the decision to do this was taken by the relevent air traffic control bodies in each country (NATS in the UK) and has absolutely nothing to do with either government or over zealous health and safety officials.

It's OK for you moaning on about it from the safety of you armchair, but would you like to be one to make the decision to allow these planes to fly if there was even the slightest possibility that they may fly into this cloud and fall out of the sky.

Well KLM & Lufthansa weren't sitting in their armchairs as widely reported (including the Daily Handwinger http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9036398) they put up test flights while Pa Broon kept his head firmly in the sand.

Carry on following the Bottler lemming like, the cliff's edge isn't far away

[IainBusby]

Well KLM & Lufthansa weren't sitting in their armchairs as widely reported (including the Daily Handwinger http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9036398) they put up test flights while Pa Broon kept his head firmly in the sand.

Carry on following the Bottler lemming like, the cliff's edge isn't far away

I did hear tell that British Airways has also put up a test flight, are you suggesting that Gordon Brown should just tell them all not to be so silly and just get on with it because Dedworth, the DM and the Express have all said it's OK.

"British Airways says a test flight conducted yesterday has provided fresh evidence that blanket airspace restrictions are unnecessary and should be lifted.
The airline's chief executive Willie Walsh yesterday took a two-hour flight at 40,000ft which turned up no sign of damage to the aircraft or its engines.
The results prompted BA to call on the Government urgently to adopt new policies which would allow airlines to resume flying. But the BA findings contradicted information from military sources. A senior Western diplomat said several Nato F-16 fighter jets that flew through the ash cloud had suffered engine damage, saying glass-like deposits were found inside the planes' engines."


I think I would prefer to put my trust in the opinion of the aforementioned "military sources" rather than that of Willie Walsh.

[Dedworth]

I did hear tell that British Airways has also put up a test flight, are you suggesting that Gordon Brown should just tell them all not to be so silly and just get on with it because Dedworth, the DM and the Express have all said it's OK.

"British Airways says a test flight conducted yesterday has provided fresh evidence that blanket airspace restrictions are unnecessary and should be lifted.
The airline's chief executive Willie Walsh yesterday took a two-hour flight at 40,000ft which turned up no sign of damage to the aircraft or its engines.
The results prompted BA to call on the Government urgently to adopt new policies which would allow airlines to resume flying. But the BA findings contradicted information from military sources. A senior Western diplomat said several Nato F-16 fighter jets that flew through the ash cloud had suffered engine damage, saying glass-like deposits were found inside the planes' engines."


I think I would prefer to put my trust in the opinion of the aforementioned "military sources" rather than that of Willie Walsh.

So Willie Walsh is mug enough to risk his own life, that of the crew and also the loss/damage to a multi million pound 747. How about the risks taken by Dutch & German airlines ?

Where do these previously unheard of F16's come from ? - I'd hazard a guess and suggest Belgium - a suitably spineless nation that is at the hub of Eurocracy

[walesrob]

I never had the slightest doubt that you would think that anything he done was wrong, too little, too much, too late, too expensive, too cheapskate or probably all of these things and others as well, because your judgement is so clouded by hatred for the man.

Childish.

[keithAngel]

Well Bottler Brown finally has pulled his finger out and done something about it - too little too late. 3 Royal Navy ships have been mobilised. .

Agreed the entire Royal Navy should have been mobilised to sink Iceland before they had time to erupt the volcanoe

[IainBusby]

Agreed the entire Royal Navy should have been mobilised to sink Iceland before they had time to erupt the volcanoe

If he had done that Dedworth and the DM would have brought up the cod wars and said it was all Harold Wilson's fault because he didn't blow Iceland out of the water back then.

[adam&chryss]

Why should the Government have done something earlier?
Is it Dunkirk 2010?
The Navy has to go and help?
Who`s in danger?
I agree that any medical emergencies should be taken care of as a priority but for sake come on. I`d have loved to be trapped in Phil with my missus for an extra week or so!

[Dedworth]

Why should the Government have done something earlier?
Is it Dunkirk 2010?
The Navy has to go and help?
Who`s in danger?
I agree that any medical emergencies should be taken care of as a priority but for sake come on. I`d have loved to be trapped in Phil with my missus for an extra week or so!

On a personal basis I'd agree with your last sentence. Absent employees will have a serious effect in this country Healthcare workers missing eg Ambulance Drivers, Nurses, Police, Firefighters, a local school was locked out yesterday cos the caretaker was stuck in Spain, the list is endless.

The Government should have got a grip on it earlier but it is the usual too little too late including the Phantom Madrid Coach Fleet

[keithAngel]

On a personal basis I'd agree with your last sentence. Absent employees will have a serious effect in this country Healthcare workers missing eg Ambulance Drivers, Nurses, Police, Firefighters, a local school was locked out yesterday cos the caretaker was stuck in Spain, the list is endless.

The Government should have got a grip on it earlier but it is the usual too little too late including the Phantom Madrid Coach Fleet

Caretakers stuck in Spain outrageous we are obviously paying these public servants to much !! they should be fined and have there pension funds docked passports withdrawn untill they show remorse at having ideas above their station !!!

Only we captains of industry should be able to make frivalous overseas journeys lets hope our dear leader to be will tackle this nonsensence as a matter of urgency I think I will write a stiff letter to the Times