SAVE the QE2 for Southampton was the plea to Gordon Brown as he took over the reins of power today.
Two separate petitions asking the new Prime Minister, pictured right, to take action to keep QE2 in Britain have been lodged on 10 Downing Street website.
Anger over the £50m sale of the liner to the oil rich Middle East state of Dubai has been growing in Southampton and across the UK.
Today the Daily Echo can also exclusively reveal that, under the deal, besides the liner herself, the unique and priceless collection of art, models, silver and Cunard memorabilia that is on board QE2 is to be lost to the nation as everything has been included in the sale price.
An ambitious scheme has already been put forward to transform the ship into a major tourist attraction, conference centre and hotel on Southampton's waterfront.
DOWNING STREET PETITIONS : Click HERE to sign Number 10 petitions
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