The government has stopped short of naming a new Arctic research ship ¡°Boaty McBoatface¡± and has instead bestowed the name ¡°Boaty¡± on a remotely operated submarine.

Despite Boaty McBoatface comfortably topping a public poll to find a name for the new vessel, it will instead be called the RRS Sir David Attenborough, a suggestion that came fourth in the vote organised by the Natural Environment Research Council (Nerc).

A statement by Nerc said Sir David¡¯s name had been selected because it ¡°captures the ship¡¯s scientific mission and celebrates the broadcaster¡¯s contribution to natural science¡±.

Some social media users were less than impressed with the decision, however, calling it an affront to democracy (with varying degrees of seriousness):

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Labour members vote for Corbyn. Labour MPs know better. People vote for . NERC knows better. Democracy in the UK in 2016.

¡ª Marcus Chown (@marcuschown)

Another user, Matt Hunter, suggested getting Sir David ¡°blind drunk¡± and changing his name to Boaty McBoatface in order to achieve ¡°justice¡±.

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1. Get David Attenborough blind drunk
2. Get him to a courthouse
3. Get him to change his name to

Justice.

¡ª Matt Hunter (@HunterMatthew_)

Other Twitter users said that the vessel to be named Boaty needed a different name as it was not really a boat.

so really it should be called Droney McDroneface

¡ª Adam Dyson (@adsbfc)

Next week Nerc¡¯s chief executive Duncan Wingham and head of communications Julia Maddock will be questioned about the poll by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee.?

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david.matthews@tesglobal.com