Not much to disagree with there. But why should the Government bale out 140,000 people who would rather spend their money abroad than in the UK, while contributing to the destruction of the planet?

They shouldn't, is the answer.

Because these people for the most part will be tax payers and as such are contributing to what should be a developed society where the state looks after its participants. This country spends billions defending oppressed citizens in other countries using the monies contributed by the very people you begrudge spending the money on.

ATOL are contributing c40% of the cost so the governments contribution is c£60m - you think they that is out of order?

I didn't say they shouldn't. I wondered what those who deride Government intervention, those opposed to proper funding of social services, would think about bailing out the better off. I am all in favour of the Government looking after its participants.

Because someone goes abroad on holiday they are better off? People go abroad for a variety of reasons one of which is cost i.e. its cheaper than staying in the UK.

There is a world of difference between flying relatively few people home in a time of crisis from taking a raft of commercial businesses into public ownership. Perhaps if we didn't spend so much money on foreign aid we would have more money to spend on social services - £60m is a drop in the ocean when you come to funding social services. Labour is talking about £6bn - the UK foreign aid budget is £12bn.

I know its xenophobic but I would rather spend our tax revenues on the people who actually contributed to raising those revenues

I am sure we could make a list of things we could save huge amounts of money on, but we'd be laid wide open to name calling by the left leaning members of the board.

No 10 line now confirmed: back Johnson or get death threats.

Should the government bale out other failing businesses where said business has taken deposits or payments from customers ?

In my view, no. Where would it stop?

Governments shouldn’t bale out private companies - this is not a bale out this is simply an act of common sense to help citizens in a crisis. A bit like using the emergency services when the flood defences give way.

Let’s be honest the tax revenues excluding VAT the government have received from Thomas Cook will be significantly higher than any cost it will incur in this operation.