Ukip plans to build 'Floatingale' hospital ship with foreign aid cash

Dubbed the 'Floatingale', the party says the ship would be despatched overseas instead of financial assistance and could also help ease the strain on the NHS in times of need such as the Covid pandemic.

The party's economic spokesman Bill Etheridge unveiled the policy as part of plans to kickstart Britain's economy, which also include increasing the personal allowance before income tax to £14,500.

Britain's annual foreign aid budget is currently around £13 billion. It is set to be cut from 0.7 per cent of national income to 0.5 per cent in a bid to reduce the Government's record deficit.

Former Dudley councillor and MEP Mr Etheridge, who recently rejoined Ukip after stints in the Brexit Party and Libertarian Party UK, said: "We have a new and imaginative plan to help create jobs in this country.

"We believe that we should take from the foreign aid budget the money build a hospital ship. British produced, British manufacturing British firms – we build it here.

"It will be a 'Floatingale'. The idea of this is quite simple. When there is a need in another country we don't send a cheque, we send our ship to help deal with it.

"If the NHS becomes overwhelmed we have our ship to use. We have the opportunities to make a difference.

"These are real changes, not the same old tired two-party system."

The idea is based on the US Navy, which has had hospital ships in service since the 1860s.

During the pandemic hospital ships Mercy and Comfort were deployed to Los Angeles and New York City respectively to provide care for Covid patients, while Britain has also used hospital ships during various conflicts dating back centuries.

Ukip is attempting to rebuild after falling apart and seeing membership plummet following former leader Nigel Farage's decision to quit in 2016.

The party has put forward Peter Gammons for London Mayor, but is yet to decide on entering a candidate for next year's mayoral elections in the West Midlands.