The Sun reported on Sunday 20th November 2016 that  ‘David Campbell Bannerman, who has led the HMS Illustrious rescue campaign, said: “This new bid meets all the government’s aspirations and would make £1 million more, create many jobs and would impose no further cost on the MoD. ‘  The MEP noted that “It just doesn’t make sense to scrap her now – it is irrational and unreasonable.”’

The Sunday Times reported that ‘David Campbell Bannerman, a Conservative MEP representing the consortium, said there was “still hope” that a deal might be struck to save the historic warship for the nation.’  The MEP noted that ‘the consortium had offered to buy the ship from the Turkish shipyard, but a clause in the MoD contract stipulates that Illustrious be scrapped and not sold on.’ and that ‘“The MoD could waive that clause….It just doesn’t make sense to scrap her now — it is irrational and unreasonable.”‘