HMS Victory at the Hard in Portsmouth

A hollow victory for the UKs armed forces

The government has responded to just under a 1000 people who petitioned for HMS Victory to remain an assett of the Royal Navy.

980 people signed the petition on number 10s website after the Ministry of Defence announced it was to review all funding options for the warship.

Downing street said, "We feel it is important to ensure that petitioners are aware that HMS Victory will remain part of the Royal Navy"

A recent report commissioned by Tory leader David Cameron and conducted independently by Mr Forsyth, concluded, "I shall be indicting Gordon Brown for how he has let down the armed services both as Chancellor and as Prime Minister. He has refused to release funds, our soldiers haven't been given the right kit and it has cost lives. The kit was down to money and the money was down to the man who is now Prime Minister."

The same report also concluded that lack of funds were responsible for the commissioning of thin skinned landrovers which had up until now resulted in 62 deaths.

In light of these revelations, the question arises how important is HMS Victory to the nation? Could not it be given to a trust, tourist board or private buyer for public display? Given the losses being sufferred by our armed forces, should downing street make it a priority for their own political purposes?