Petition · past parliament

Break up HMS Victory and send the timbers to France to help rebuild Notre Dame

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

Britain has a shameful history in Europe - Brexit, Agincourt, Bucks Fizz - it's time we made amends to our EU partners. After the tragic fire, France needs high quality oak timbers to repair Notre Dame. We have a source of timber currently sitting doing nothing in Portsmouth - HMS Victory.
France has given us so much. Les Miserables was the first novel to destigmatise mental illness. Jean-Paul Gaultier invented the stripey jumper. And who can forget Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds?

Unfortunately, Britain failed to reciprocate. We wrecked the first attempts at European integration, in 1803 and 1939. HMS Victory is part of that barbaric past, whose legacy persists - Portsmouth voted Leave in 2016. President Macron admires old relics - let's send him Victory with our apologies.

Why it was rejected

There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.

Timeline

20 Apr 2019 Petition opened for signatures
13 May 2019 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21
Status Rejected
Rejected 13 May 2019

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.