Dear Editor,
We hear a lot about cuts and a lack of government funding and it is
certainly true that many key areas of the public sector are underfunded.
However, just as important as having adequate funding for a budget is ensuring
that this funding is spent wisely – this is something that I feel successive
Labour and Tory governments have failed at.
The fact that the Royal Navy’s largest ship HMS Ocean is set to be
retired is a perfect example of the government being wasteful with taxpayer
funding. While I don’t welcome a reduction in the size of the Royal Navy
surface fleet, I understand that ships age, become outdated and need to be
retired and replaced. However, HMS Ocean went through a £65 million upgrade in
2014! With Ocean set to be scrapped, not only was this upgrade a gigantic
waste of money but it demonstrates a lack of long term planning within the heart
of government.
We must continue to press the government to provide adequate money for
key services, but we must also remain vigilant and ensure that this money is
being spent wisely.
Regards,
Jonathan Arnott MEP
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