I argued for Scottish Independence on the grounds that we should break away from the UK – a state which was continually complicit in illegal war, support of dictatorships, purveying arms for war crimes and torture.
I have friends of all kinds of political persuasions, but I do not know a single person who is prepared to defend the British government’s decision today to continue the ethnic cleansing of the Chagos Islanders. Do you?
I have been campaigning on the subject on this blog for a dozen years, and the only hopeful sign has been an increase in public awareness from a very low base. There is no possible defence for deporting an entire island population to make way for a US military base on Diego Garcia. It ranks with the worse crimes of Empire, and let us not forget it happened in 1971, not in old history. Let us also not forget that both Labour and Tories supported this crime.
The decision is the more disgusting as it is taken under the “Royal Prerogative” after years of court battles. As I posted a couple of days ago, the government stated that returned islanders would not be allowed civilian use of the US military airport. They now state that without an airlink there could not be a viable population on the outlying islands.
Let me give you this quote from Sikunder Burnes p.376
Those who believe the British Empire was beneficent might consider this account by a junior officer:
“Their wells, by which they irrigated the land, were blown up with gunpowder and rendered useless. These people lived, in great measure, on dried mulberries, as the land would not produce enough corn for their consumption. There were beautiful mulberry trees around the forts. Every morning and evening two companies from each regiment were sent out to cut them down.
We found that by cutting rings through the bark into the heart of the trees, it was effectively destroyed as if it was cut down… and it was lighter work… we became quite adepts in the work of destruction, and a greater scene of devastation was perhaps never beheld.”
The deliberate starvation of the civilian population was an appalling crime. A rural economy dependent on tree crops could not survive the complete destruction of the trees, as there was nothing to live on until new trees grew. Some areas have never recovered from the deliberate devastation of the rural economy.
I have no doubt the majority of people in the UK would be horrified by the deportation of the Chagos Islanders. But the entire political and economic structure of the UK state is such that it is inevitably a satrap to United states Crimes, be it in Diego Garcia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya or elsewhere. The only remedy is for the United Kingdom and its worldwide imperial pretensions to be ended as a state. I express this view succinctly here:
I do hope that outrage at the Chagos decision will cause my friends in England to renew their determination to effect revolutionary change. Here in Scotland we must renew our determination to break up the UK at the earliest possible moment.
For the Chagos Islanders we send our love, and encouragement, and urge them not to give up hope. This must be the start of a new and more radical phase in the struggle. Perhaps it is time for a Chagos flotilla?
Signed First Editions of Sikunder Burnes are now available direct from this blog! You can leave a message naming the dedication you want. Sold at cover price of £25 including p&p for UK delivery or £29 for overseas delivery. Ideal Christmas presents!!
Wow. Good thing we’re not overreacting.
Scottish independence would neither end the UK as a state nor improve the lot of the Chagos islanders.
You are quite wrong. The United Kingdom of Great Britain was created specifically by the Act of Union of 1707. England and Wales were already one entity before 1707 but not referred to as the United Kingdom.
Of course you little Englanders can call yourselves what you want after Scottish Independence, but it for sure won’t be the same United Kingdom that was formed in 1707 and subsequently enlarged to include Ireland, most of which subsequently left.
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Act_of_Union_1707
It remains my expectation that the break-up of the UK will have a beneficial effect in England, shattering the status quo, finally killing off ludicrous worldwide pretensions and precipitating much needed radical social-economic change. That will ultimately lead to the end of the colonies.
As far as I can tell, any kind of shock like that has typically made the “loser” more jingoist/nationalist/etc., rather than less.
“Of course you little Englanders can call yourselves what you want…”
“Based on the 2011 census the population of England was 53.012m (84% of the UK), Scotland was estimated at 5.295m (8.4%), Wales was 3.063m (4.8%) and Northern Ireland 1.811m (2.9%)”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography_of_the_United_Kingdom
In 2013 the GDP of England alone was approximately $2.68 trillion, whereas that of Scotland was approximately $246 billion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_country_subdivisions_by_GDP_over_100_billion_US_dollars
Thus, both by population and GDP England is about ten times the size of Scotland. Who is “little” again?
Incidentally, I am a pure-blooded Scot.
Scotland’s GDP is slightly greater than those of Madrid, Chiba, Hokkaido and Oregon; slightly less than those of Rhone-Alpes, Abu Dhabi, Rio de Janeiro, Louisiana and Catalonia.
Oh Tom it’s not all bad, unless of course you’re a unionist?
“SCOTLAND WITH ONLY 9% OF THE UK POPULATION HAS:
32% of the land area.
61% of the sea area.
90% of the fresh water.
65% of the natural gas production
96.5% of the crude oil production.
47% of the open cast coal production
81% of the untapped coal reserves
62% of the timber production
46% of the total forest area
92% of the hydro electric production
40% of the wind wave and solar energy production
60% of the fish landings
30% of the beef herd
20% of the sheep herd
9% of the dairy herd
10% of the pig herd
15% if the cereal holdings
20% of the potato holdings
90% of the whisky industry
SCOTLAND WITH ONLY 1% OF EUROPES POPULATION HAS:
25% of Europes tidal energy
25% of wind power
10% of wave energy
Over 60% of EU oil production (largest oil reserve in the EU)
33% of the EUs total hydrocarbon production
WE HAVE A:
17 billion pound construction industry
13 billion food and drink industry
10 billion business services industry
9.3 billion chemical services industry
9.3 billion tourism industry
7 billion financial services industry
5 billion aeroservice industry
4.5 billion pound whisky exports industry
3.1 billion pound life sciences industry
And 350 million pounds worth of textile exports
Scotland also has the the greatest level of the highest educationally qualified adults in Europe.”
Yet average GDP per capita is less than for England.
Scotland has a smaller population than Yorkshire.
Based on your own figures, 8.4% of the population produce 9.2% of UK GDP.
A Scot is 19% more productive than an Englishman.
Just sayin’
Those figures are badly out of date, last year Scotland contributed 7.9% of the UK GDP (including oil) but still absorbed 9.1% of the expenditure.
http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/08/2132/331645
Calling someone a “Little Englander” is not calling England little.
Pure blooded? Are you a izan as well?
“Thus, both by population and GDP England is about ten times the size of Scotland. Who is “little” again?”
Is it really possible that someone could (presumably) reach adulthood without finding out that to call someone a “Little Englander” is not an assertion that England is less populous than Scotland?
It remains my expectation that the break-up of the UK will have a beneficial effect in England, shattering the status quo, finally killing off ludicrous worldwide pretensions and precipitating much needed radical social-economic change. That will ultimately lead to the end of the colonies.
Craig- I would agree with both your propositions; Scottish independence would indeed make South Britain reconsider its global ‘punching above its weight pretensions’- and not before time. Part of that would also involve a review of the status of the UK’s overseas territories- however there is no guarantee that such a change in status post a UK break up would necessarily improve matters for the Chagos islanders. Surely the odds must be pretty short on South Britain/ RumpUK simply cedeing sovereignty over Diego Garcia (and possibly also some of the Caribbean territories in America’s backyard) to the US, probably in return for US diplomatic support in other areas ?
Is no one interested in the rights of the people of Scotland?
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/1083514/caithness-mum-describes-nightmare-journey-to-give-birth/
All they ever think about is independence, it’s the answer to every question and the solution to every problem as far as they are concerned while things just go from bad to worse.
Maybe if this poor girls ancestors were from an island in the Indian Ocean? Maybe if she lived in a war zone? Maybe if health wasn’t devolved someone might take notice.
Fred, I told you before and I’ll tell you again. If you want diversification from the SNP you need a Yes result.
I am not sure that the plight of the Chagossians would swing it for the Little Scotlanders in a second indyref. Neither am I confident that Scottish independence would do anything to help the plight of the Chagossians.
But any cause, no matter how small, that helps rid us of Scotland is to be encouraged. Most of us in England wish you would get on with it.
Your support is appreciated. Unfortunately, polls on the subject indicate that Scottish independence is considerably less popular in England than it is in Scotland.
“Polls indicate”
Fair enough. What was the more reliable evidence you were using for your assertion?
Perhaps what’s really needed is a George Soros funded UK “Colour Revolution” ! 😀
Maybe you will find this funny !
“He’s like Trump, but without the humility”;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8Ux5b6YM9A
😀
The contrast between the treatment of the Chagos Islanders and that of the Falkland Islanders is stark.
The Corporation City of London has an interest in these matters.
I have already been feeling a little depressed today–paying for yesterday’s pleasures so to speak; no, not alcohol. But what are the Chagosians paying for? What did they ever do? This all seems so obviously unfair. And in this day and age!
I can’t blame the Scottish people for wanting to go in a different direction. If an actual departure, not just a referendum, does not then generate a soul-searching conversation in the UK then the people must be in even deeper sleep. But before that it will be very interesting to observe any new US foreign policy direction to Empire that Trump asserts.
“I can’t blame the Scottish people for wanting to go in a different direction.”
We don’t. We had a referendum. The Scottish people voted overwhelmingly we want to remain British.
I have no problem with that. 🙂
Item, q. nul home, de quell estate ou condicion qil soit, ne soit ostre de tre, ne de ten, ne pris, nemprisone, ne deshite, ne mis a la mort, saunz ester mesne en respons p. due pces de lei.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Edw3/28/3/section/III
Isn’t the problem even bigger, given the fact that residents of Britain are the Queen’s subjects, not citizens, and she can do whatever HMG decides?
What if she approves a government request to deport all her subjects to Diego Garcia? Would there be any recourse by the subjects effected by this Trump-like move under her prerogative?
The UK needs a written constitute where much is clearly defined, especially regarding the dictatorial prerogative.
The UK has a written constitution, it just isn’t all written on the same piece of paper but it works just the same and was the foundation other constitutions, including America’s, were based on.
So if the American constitution isn’t worth the paper it’s written on why would you want Britain to copy them and have a written constitution?
Take a look at some of the pieces of paper with writing on them which make up the British constitution.
https://www.bl.uk/magna-carta/articles/britains-unwritten-constitution
They ensure neither the British Prime Minister nor the monarch can do whatever they want.
I’m not so sure that the PM is particularly restrained by the constitution. He/she is if you think of the constitution as a set of laws and conventions that abstract from the existence of political parties, but if you accept that the constitution is not blind to the concept of a party, there isn’t much that the PM can be prevented from doing.
One of the Founding Fathers, I think it was James Madison, said the US Constitution is only good so long as the judges uphold it. He recognized that for all its fine words and ideals to a tyrant it was just a piece of paper.
He must have said that before Marbury v. Madison…
Mick.
When asked, by the people what kind of government Benjamin Franklin, had bequeathed them.
Franklin replied – “A republic, if you can keep it.”
It is up to the citizens of all nations, to hold their governments accountable on all matters, pertaining to the people.
Never said the US constitution isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.
Just that it needs to be updated because foreign policy-making has just become the President’s prerogative.
And the pieces of paper you have provided about what was agreed to during the high Middle Ages,, etc., are best auctioned off, as they provide too little conditions about what currently exists, and how it does and doesn’t operate.
Oh, so the Queen and HMG can’t prevent the Chagos from going back home!
That’s rich.
Might be of interest…
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/uk/2009/jul/05/declaration-independence-arbroath-wordsmiths?client=safari
Item, q. nul home, de quell estate ou condicion qil soit, ne soit ostre de tre, ne de ten, ne pris, nemprisone, ne deshite, ne mis a la mort, saunz ester mesne en respons p. due pces de lei.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Edw3/28/3/section/III
(Appeared in the wrong place above.)
And, perhaps more relevant for the question posed, the Habeas Corpus Act 1679 is here: http://www.bailii.org/uk/legis/num_act/1679/1518495.html
XI. noe Subject of this Realme that now is or hereafter shall be an Inhabitant of Resiant of this Kingdome of England Dominion of Wales or Towne of Berwicke upon Tweede shall or may be sent Prisoner into Scotland Ireland Jersey Gaurnsey Tangeir or into any Parts Garrisons Islands or Places beyond the Seas which are or at any time hereafter [F25 shall be] within or without the Dominions of His Majestie His Heires or Successors and that every such Imprisonment is hereby enacted and adjudged to be illegall
Wrong again Trowbridge
https://www.gov.uk/types-of-british-nationality/british-citizenship
Think you are quite wrong.
Suggest you read the government’s document on the Types of Nationality, especially who are British subjects. Suspect all are still the Queen’s subjects.
Think this is another example of where the prerogative aka delegated legislation has been used to define who are citizens and who are still subjects.
I understand Jeremy Corbyn raised this matter at PMQs earlier. I will get the link when it appears on Hansard Online, 3 hrs later.
https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2016-11-16
The UK empire is nearly dead mercifully, and at the moment resembles the last thrashings of a dying serpent..
The problem is that the Empire is not dead but that it has been handed over to the United States to do as it wants with it. This means, for example, that the Chagos islanders can be removed so that the US can build a complex of torture chambers far off the beaten track, where the stench and sound of its crimes are a little muffled.
And those responsible for this, ultimately, are the political class in the UK who, having run out of other ways to cannibalise the British masses and, having concluded that they are no longer needed as soldiers, sailors, factory workers, food producers, sexual partners and genetic stores, are now in the process of ‘selling up.’
Everything is for sale and the capital value realised by this continuing auction is for export to warmer climes where more biddable labour is available. The only hope of the people living in the UK is to slough off the regime and rule themselves. This need not necessarily involve the break up of the political unit we call the UK but it probably will, and should.
To anyone with any consciousness of the meaning of British history the end of the UK will mean the end of a long period in which a small ruling class has comprehensively plundered the land and its people, expropriating their resources, ruthlessly exploiting their strength and ingenuity, luxuriating behind the courage and selflessness of their armies and navies and schooling the world in its unprecedentedly callous and selfish ideology of cruelty and greed.
Or didn’t you understand what was going on in Sikunder Burnes’s day or what his bosses were about?
https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2016-11-16/debates/9CD0C312-789A-4AB9-9EBA-1061E5F622F8/Engagements
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) (Lab)
I concur with the remarks the Prime Minister made about the disaster in Croydon last week. We send our sympathies to all those who lost loved ones and express our solidarity with the emergency workers who went through such trauma in freeing people from the wreckage.
It appears from press reports that the Chagos islanders who were expelled from their homes over 40 years ago will suffer another injustice today with the denial of their right of return. Yesterday, the Foreign Secretary told European media that Brexit would “probably” mean leaving the customs union. Will the Prime Minister confirm whether that is the case?’
The Prime Minister
I think the right hon. Gentleman was trying to get two issues in there. On the issue of the Chagos islanders, there will be a written ministerial statement to the House later today, so everybody will be able to see the position the Government are taking.
On the whole issue of the customs union and the trading relationships we will have with the European Union and other parts of the world once we have left the European Union, we are preparing carefully for the formal negotiations, but—[Interruption.] We are preparing carefully for the formal negotiations. What we want to ensure is that we have the best possible trading deal with the European Union once we have left.’
If Scotland ever gains independence it will find a lot of disadvantaged people from England heading there in hopes of better life-chances. I think it’s only the English Channel which stopped many of them heading into Europe as economic refugees.
Well, that and language skills.
You might have missed it but ‘lack of language skills’ has not prevented mass migrations from England in the past.
Like when/where? As far as I can tell, whenever Brits have moved in large numbers to go anywhere, they’ve just continued speaking English.
That’s what empire’s and colonies do.
Don’t imagine the Dutch plunderers were that interested in learning Indonesian languages, other than the basics necessary to the task.
Exactly. But since the end of the Dutch colonial empire, people like me have moved everywhere and worked in the local language. (You will notice that I’m not writing this in Dutch.)
The point is that you have to learn English, otherwise you’d be left talking to yourselves and a few Afrikaners.
Native English speakers don’t need to learn the smaller languages because you’re already speaking English anyway, through necessity.
Same with the Skandies and the rest.
We used to spend a lot of time learning the major European languages, but now I think we could probably drop them too.
Russian and Chinese are probably the most important languages for native English speakers to learn these days, unless one has some specific cultural interest.
Good luck getting hired in Brussels or Paris speaking only English.
You know, these days, Brussels and Paris are the last places I want to visit.
I certainly don’t want to work there.
But, as I said, we did learn the major Euro languages.
Most educated people can get by in French.
That’d do, no?
I cannot understand why the people of Scotland did not vote for independence two years ago in the referendum.
Good point Steve, there were several mitigating factors, such as the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Gideon Osborne) openly denying Scots the use of the pound.
Then you had the pensions threat, claims that pensions were only safe on the broad shoulders of the UK.
You also had the if you leave the UK, youll be out of the EU.
We also had you’d (Scotland ) be defenceless against invasion from the likes of Russia. Incidently a few years back a Russian fleet sought shelter in the Moray Firth, it was almost two days before a rusty old frigate reach the Moray Firth.
I did however read that the locals, did not cower in fear of their lives, but found the Russian’s charming and friendly.
There are plenty more if you leave threats but I’ll finish with the Messiah, Gordon Brown, and the treacherous Daily Record newspaper, who pushed the Vow, which was at best a ruse.
Good point Steve, there were several mitigating factors, such as the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Gideon Osborne) openly denying Scots the use of the pound.
Osborne would have had no objection to the Scots continuing to use sterling if they indicated acceptance of the terms under which the Irish used sterling up until 1978- namely, that all decisions about the currency are taken in London by the UK Treasury, and Scotland accepts these as a fait accompli-and Osborne (much as I can’t stand the guy) was well within his rights to insist on such a precondition. Remember the Irish had no say in either the Stafford Cripps or Jim Callaghan devaluations, and also had to decimalise in 1971 on the same date as the UK- but they swallowed this as part of the price of remaining in the sterling currency union.
However the SNP, in their state of utter delusion, thought they could have their cake and eat it ie continue to use sterling AND have a say in the monetary policy of the currency union in which they wanted to remain. Osborne very correctly told Salmond & co where to get off on that one.
Mark Carney and Gideon Osborne spoke plainly, infact Osborne spoke in a closed shop, infront of tv cameras, where he insisted that the only way Scotland could use Sterling, was, if Scotland remained in the union.
I even recall Bernard Ponsonby, STV’s political spokesperson, cornering Osborne as he left after preaching from his closed shop. Osborne even then claimed Scotland couldn’t use Sterling.
If it was as you claim Osborne and Carney never made it public, still in my opinion if independence had been acheived both men would’ve given Scotland the go ahead to use Sterling.
Now on the cusp of indy2, I prefer a separate Scottish currency.
RoS- I note you aren’t disputing my argument; Osborne did indeed say what he said- but it was in the context, as I explained above, of Salmond & co wanting Scotland to be some sort of ‘equal partner’ in a new currency union. That was always a non starter- Scotland as I stated would have had to accept the terms the Irish had until they asserted their monetary independence and joined the ‘snake’ in 1978.
Scotland’s relationship to South Britain in any new currency union would also have been similar to that which the Luxemburgers had with Brussels re their use of the Belgian franc last century, prior to both countries joining the Euro- ie meekly subservient.
Cowardice and a justified mistrust of the Snats, who want to run the status quo from Edinburgh whether in or out. Syriza a-go-go.
Independence for Scotland has become Craig’s panacea for all the UK’s problems but it won’t help the former residents of the Chagos
Islands one iota because the decision really lies with the Americans.
Unfortunately I think Kempe is dead right on this one. A smaller poodle will be given no greater right to bark about the disposition of US forces.
I was at a memorial service on Sunday. As ever after the minute’s silence the disgrace of unbridled patriotism raised its ugly head showing that nothing has changed in more than two hundred years – not even the lyrics of the national anthem. I do not sing this. It especially depresses me to hear the words “send her victorious” because that is what we have been doing throughout history – stealing people’s lands from New Zealand to India, from South Africa to Canada, from the Falklands to Diego Garcia.
The stirring music of Gustav Holst concluded the sevice with more inane lyrics meant to encourage the patriotic fervour that leads our sovereign country on pursuit of grand theft. Everybody should question pledges like:
“I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above
entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
the love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
that lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
the love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
the love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.”
It is asking you to serve your government and country in all its unholy pursuits. This is totally unacceptable. It encourages people to lay down their lives for the treachery and lies of politicians. In terms of Animal Farm I am afraid that all who subscribe to this nonsense are no more than sheep. Wake up world.
Give the Chagos Islanders back their land. Give the native Americans their hunting grounds back instead of fracking them and building unwanted pipelines. New Zealand is the land of the Maori. Australia is the land of aboriginal tribespeople. We have no right to steal from them. Yes, we have the power to steal from them and therefore we should set an example that this is wrong. Otherwise we are like the school bully, bigger, stronger, more heavily armed, who takes from a weaker child something that does not belong. We need a good head to stamp this bullying (which is also a form of cowardice) out.
Yes, John, Remembrance Day/Week/month is like Halloween – it starts earlier each year and gets more and more divorced from its original point. I even saw a dog wearing a poppy this year, I knew then that the country was doomed.
KOWN, there’s probably nobody living today who can remember the First World War. And, yes, the poppy thing is overdone. This year I noticed that not everybody on the BBC was wearing a poppy. A producer from the incredibly filmed Planet Earth II was not wearing one. I could hardly believe it. Looks like the BBC policy of ‘if it does not move too fast stick a popy on it or it can’t appear on my programme’ is changing albeit slowly. I am almost certain this young man must have specifically have told the BBC he did not want to wear a poppy. If so good for him. There may have been complaints from other charities about the overexposure of one charity to the detriment of others. I noticed this week they are concentrating on cancer and children in need.
I usually wear a white poppy for peace and a red poppy as a mark of respect for those who were forced into battle, and an early grave, because I have empathy for my fellow beings, who may have joined one of the armed forces for any number of reasons, no jobs, learn a trade, see the world, free uniform, marching bands and so on. One of the reasons for which it is unlikely they would have joined is a premature death.
I’m quiety confident, that Scots will vote for independence the second time around, mainly due to severe impact a hard Brexit would have on the Scottish economy.
I and many others no longer or never had/have faith in Westminster, and its abilities. Holyrood best serves the people of Scotland’s interests.
The only way that Scotland could remain in the union, is if Theresa May agreed to the Scottish governments terms over staying in the EU, Norway style.
In which free trade and free movement are allowed, but Scotland remains in the union. It would entail Scotland becoming part of the (EEA) the European Economic Area, which includes the likes of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Unfortunately I doubt Theresa May will comply with that propsal, which means a second independence referendum, will probably be the course of action.
Should read Quietly, I do apologise.
“I’m quiety confident, that Scots will vote for independence the second time around, mainly due to severe impact a hard Brexit would have on the Scottish economy.”
I remember a lot of confidence before the last referendum too.
Scotland voted. Respect their decision. Respect democracy.
Just more of your most dated, loony ideas about written constitutions and referenda.
A constitution has to be reviewed and changed periodically – what the Brits never do with all their crap about Magna Carta, etc. ad nauseam.
And democratically achieved changes are not written in stone, so UK subjects wanting independence from it have ever right to seek it.
We reviewed it just two years ago.
The people decided.
Respect their decision.
Things have drastically changed since then.
Yes, according to post-brexit polls support for independence has risen from 45% to 47%.
And what will the Scots do when the EU collapses.
Surely that potential has been factored into the equation.
They blame it on Westminster.
Maybe, but it’s a serious question.
The EU is falling apart.
Surely someone’s addressed the question.
“A constitution has to be reviewed and changed periodically – what the Brits never do with all their crap about Magna Carta, etc. ad nauseam…”
Come on! You know that this is misleading the Constitution has changed and changes continuously. This is not to say that it is adequate but that your statement is misleading.
As you know, judging by your criticism of the US Constitution (which is extremely difficult to change) in some respects unwritten constitutions are better than written ones.
And not least because-as the case of the US plainly demonstrates- written constitutions are continually evolving-thanks to Executive over reach, congressional apathy and judicial re-interpretation.
Comparing the British and US constitutions is like judging an anti-beauty contest: both are disgustingly impotent in the face of government and the greedy fools whom it serves.
What’s more, the US constitution (small c) also changes continuously. If nothing else, there’s a steady stream of Supreme Court judgements.
The Second Amendment is still regularly wheeled out to oppose gun control.
Spot the difference
Bevin wrote “…-as the case of the US plainly demonstrates- written constitutions are continually evolving-thanks to Executive over reach, congressional apathy and judicial re-interpretation…”
Martinned commented forty odd minutes later: “What’s more, the US constitution (small c) also changes continuously. If nothing else, there’s a steady stream of Supreme Court judgements.”
Great minds think alike…
Nicola Sturgeon would be a bigger fool than BoJo, if she stood by, and allowed Theresa May and her distasteful front bench, to dragged Scotland out of the EU.
The warning signs are there, with the likes of Deloitte and the (IFS) Institue of Fiscal studies, and many prominent think tanks, proposing that a hard Brexit would be very damaging to the Scottish economy.
I’m sure that Scots, are no in the mood to be fooled again by the media and unionist biased politicians.
The people of Scotland would be even bigger fools if they let Nicola Sturgeon drag them out of the union with Britain.
To Nationalists everything is an excuse for independence, it’s all they ever think about, one track minds.
Rubbish. I encountered ONE like that, out of scores.
Ros
” I’m sure that Scots, are no in the mood to be fooled again by the media and unionist biased politicians.”
And you would be Correct.. I went to a Showing of London Calling a few weeks ago, then on Monday Night I went to a talk by one of the film’s Participant’s Paul Kavanagh..of Wee Ginger Dug ( the Dug is not as wee as we Thought ). Paul, is an Engaging Speaker.
I’m sure you would be well absorbed in the Films 70 mins..of sheer Factual info, ( Unlike the Media, bbC in particular,) Not sure when it will be released on Vimeo Though.
Anyway..a wee re-post of the Trailer that Craig posted a couple of weeks ago –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snmPY1KAGVo
In a democracy, one does not have to respect any result.
In the UK, there has been a GE, and the Brexit vote to leave the EU, so I think it’s the obligation of its subjects to have all kinds of ideas about what to do next.
Here in the States, I have no respect for what has been allegedly achieved at the polls, as I think that election was stolen, leading to a nutter becoming President. I certainly favor his being impeached asap, and removed from office.
I certainly favor his being impeached asap, and removed from office.
Given that impeachment is only possible for high crimes & misdemeanors committed while in office, I would suggest that that opinion crosses the line between legitimate (and appropriate) democratic opposition and lack of respect for the rule of law.
As I recall, Bubba was only impeached for having had sex with Monica in the Oval Office, and he was not removed from office.
Hardly a high crime and misdemeanor, especially for hm.
In sum, one can be impeached for whatever one’s opponents choose.
It’s not any kind of rule of law, like slicing one’s wife up with a meat cleaver.
Still hope its the first order of business after Trump is installed, and has had Congress already approve millions of undocumented residents being expelled, that he is impeached, and tossed into history’s dustbin.
Clinton wasn’t impeached at all, and the impeachment proceedings were for perjury, not adultery.
Clinton was impeached for lying about not having had sex with Monica since he was not eating her parts at the same time she gave him a blow job, but the Senate refused to remove him from office over this minor dispute.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-37997122
Car shooting victim murdered in ‘targeted attack’
independance from terror.
Reuters on the statement.
UK denies exiled Chagos islanders the right to return
Reuters UK-17 minutes ago
UK denies exiled Chagos islanders the right to return … A Foreign Office statement said that the existing arrangement for housing the U.S. base …
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-chagos-idUKKBN13B1QO?il=0
Shame on May and Johnson and their predecessors.
Haha, as you say nothing is a coincidence, or everything is! 😉
I campaigned hard in the ’14 for an independent Scotland. My primary objective was the break up of the disgusting British Empire of illegal wars, rendition and torture, and going abroad to kill brown people to make us safe. I knew we were still doing all that, but I thought we were over the ethnic cleansing. My heart goes out to these people.
Now, more than ever, we have to be free of an immoral defense and foreign policy. This is not about “which currency we use”. It is about choosing good over evil.
Meanwhile in the Scottish Parliament there are more important matters to deal with.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/odd/snp-msp-toblerone-redesign-emblematic-of-brexit-consequences-1-4291121
Right, Fred, just change to a most irrelevant subject.
I agree. Why can’t they deal with important stuff like Westminster does?
http://www.worthingherald.co.uk/news/strictly-come-dancing-what-worthing-thinks-of-mps-parliamentary-bid-1-242140
Scotland must be the only sovereign nation in the world, that finds itself in the absurd position of, all its political opposing parties, Tories/LibDems/Labour, (bar one the Greens). Working on behalf of the interests of a foreign government 500 miles to the South.
Strangely, at present a percentage of Scots, find nothing wrong with that.
Sovereign nation?
Edinburgh is only 330 miles from London.
Lerwick is 350 miles from Edinburgh.
Edinburgh is only 292 miles from Dublin.
But if you’re swimming against the tide it seems a lot further.
Granted, but the tide turns.
For the record and for information
The PM at PMQs 12pm
The Prime Minister
I think the right hon. Gentleman was trying to get two issues in there. On the issue of the Chagos islanders, there WILL BE a written ministerial statement to the House later today, so everybody will be able to see the position the Government are taking. (Future tense)
The announcement was made this afternoon by Baroness Anelay, FCO minister in the Lords. The Lords are not sitting today.
Chagos islanders cannot return home, UK Foreign Office confirms
Decision follows decades of failed legal challenges by people who were removed to make way for military bases
Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands, site of a military base leased to the US. Photograph: Reuters
Owen Bowcott
Wednesday 16 November 2016 16.06 GMT
etcetera.
Chagos islanders cannot return home, UK Foreign Office confirms
The Guardian-1 hour ago
Announcing the long-awaited decision, the Foreign Office minister Baroness Joyce Anelay said there would be a £40m support package over …
Exiled Chagos islanders will not be allowed to go home
ITV News-1 hour ago
Chagos Islanders will not be allowed home, UK government says
BBC News-1 hour ago
Craig wrote his article many hours previously as the first comment was timed at 11.45am. OK?
Correction. The Lords were sitting today but did not get going until 3pm. They finish at 10pm.
The Commons commenced at 11.30am and are due to finish at 7.30pm.
http://calendar.parliament.uk/calendar/Commons/All/2016/11/16/Daily
You probably like this too;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BJItHuZCG8
My video wins because, whereas yours shows a mentally ill person (of the type we can find on both sides of the divide) making an idiot of herself on camera, mine shows the liberal establishment media elite getting a rocket up their smug arses.
Last year a small group of Islanders who now live in the Seychelles, made a sad return visit. The UK government most generously funded the trip.
Re-opening old wounds: Chagossians in Seychelles tell of trip to visit home islands
http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/3041/Re-opening+old+wounds+Chagossians+in+Seychelles+tell+of+trip+to+visit+home+islands
‘During the islanders’ forced resettlement between 1967 and 1973, it is estimated that around 1,500 of the Chagossians ended up in Mauritius and 500 in Seychelles’.
Craig, you appear to be more outspoken than in the past; but I would say that the UK is, to all intents and purposes, a vassal state of the USA. This is fueled by neo-con ideology (or whatever label you want to give to it) which is just as bad as the Nazis in the 1930s.
The UK now has the most right wing government in history. The USA now has the most right wing president elect and Congress in history.
What could possibly go wrong,,?
Quick summary of tonight’s BBC and C4 News agenda:
Racism, Brexit, RACIST, hatred, far-right, xenophobic, RACIST, Trump, RACIST, homophobic, sexist, racism, Trump, misogynistic, far-right, bigots, RACIST, Brexit, Islamophobic, RACIST, white, far-right, RACIST, racism [repeat]
–
Over and over again, night after night.
Should have thrown a few Putins and Russias in there.
The headless chickens at EU HQ are blaming them for everything.
The Scottish Indy vote, Brexit and Trump. Plus all the upcoming elections in the EU member states.
Same playbook as the US neocons.
Sad and useless.
That’s what happens in kakistocracies..
Here’s a new one, self-hating women !;
http://theduran.com/latest-group-being-blamed-for-hillary-clintons-election-loss-white-women-with-internalized-misogyny/
Suzanne Moore made exactly that “argument” in yesterday’s whatever rag she works for.
Clearly not original material then.
Is there some sort of Feminist HQ feeding them their copy?
The best thing about the post-PC world will be that these hacks suddenly find themselves surplus to elite requirements.
I see J Freedland is raising the spectre of the 1930s again.
Surely as a senior Guardian hack he’d be well aware how manufactured all this nonsense is.
But no.
I mean, this clown thinks Chomsky’s some sort of extremist.
Why do our media employ such bed-wetters and crapheads.
Surely they could get some decent journalists for the money they’re paying these clowns.
While i feel sorry for the Chagos islanders, not having a clue about why they had to be moved in the first place, I feel much more sorry for the undocumented residents here who are going to be chucked out somewhere, God knows where, without even a clue or means to deal with what confronts them.
Even their children who were persuaded to come out of the shadows with the understanding that they could gain citizenship if they did so face deportation.
This is the behavior of a cruel, vindiative police state which were largely responsible for making them flee here in the first place.
When I leave here, I am giving up my citizenship, provided it is given to an undocumented resident.
Imperialism is rarely likely to benefit the colonised, although surprisingly Zerohedge today contains an article, which suggests that Imperial British rule may have treated the population better than post colonial governments. I digress generally its bad and must surely undermine something of the collective understanding, culture and will of the people (I could go on in a Jungian argument but shall exercise restraint). In Britain it would appear there was something of a homogeneous culture prior to the Romans. NB I don’t say race, but culture and languages would appear to have been along the general Western European lines. The Romans divided this island with their two walls and so created Scotland. When they left there was a vacuum filled by various Scandinavian and Germanic groups finally by the Normans. In this process those we now called the Welsh were marginalised in Yr Hen Gogledd (aka SW Scotland), Cumbria, what is now Wales and Cornwall. Finally, within Wales.
My point is that it was Roman imperialism that divided this island and created Scotland and later Wales. There were some positives. Hidden away in the less prosperous lands may have accounted for the survival of language culture and identity.
But ultimately it is a British identity now shared with many other groupings. Extended devo max (so long as it is not a secret way of depriving Wales and Scotland of the country’s wealth (aka bank printing press and tax revenue) is great. Independence is sad. I can not buy an argument that at the of the day says we are so bad we must castrate ourselves. Everyone has the potential to be wicked and countries all have their wicked episodes. Scotland is not inherently more moral than England. As CM well knows the empire was built from Scottish endeavour. Don’t let those Romans win. Britain was named as an island of poetry for that is what Britain means (not painted people as our text books told us in school.)
Yes Diego Garcia was / is a disgrace.
“My point is that it was Roman imperialism that divided this island and created Scotland and later Wales.”
That’s a bit difficult to swallow. The Romans didn’t have much influence on us (the French, Italians and Spanish speak a form of low Latin; we don’t). What we are comes from Anglo-Saxon and Norman times. The Normans failed to get into Scotland and Wales. That is why the division, and why English is Anglo-Saxon larded with French.
The Romans built those two archetypal imperial boundaries beloved by so many colonial administrators the hallmark of which is the straight-line ie Hadrian’s and the Antonine walls. In so doing they carved off the north of Britain. You might say that in so doing they artificially created an opposition to what happens on the South of the wall and this basically appears to be Craig’s stance. Picts against Imperialism if you like. Not an altogether unattractive concept.
The Romans had quite an influence on the Welsh language as it is full of Latin.
I agree that the English are not romanised outsiders. Romanised outsider is essentially what Welsh means.
The Normans entered Wales and took control of the better quality low lying farmland very quickly hence the historic Landsker line in Pembrokeshire and the fact the English Welsh speaking divide is not so much north / south but highlands and lowlands.
I would also add re walls, imperialism and Mexico that Hadrian’s wall and the Antonine wall were not as some historians suggest constructed to keep labour busy, but symbols of imperial failure. The Romans had planned to advance further, but repeatedly failed. Trump should bear that in mind.
Now Hitler Light is apparently pulling a fast one, leaking rumors that he is going to build the wall with Mexico, and establish a list of Muslims seeking entry by executive order when he will have Congress do it, and have the bills on his desk after his installation as POTUS.
This is insurance against any possible impeachment move
Conspiracy theorists are going to have a field day with this loon.
He’s essentially blacked out the media so I’m not sure of your sourcing trowbridge. We won’t know about his plans until maybe too late. He has found a unique niche and I underestimated his persuasive powers. There is bound to be leaks from disaffected former insiders like Mike Rogers, but he may be on a gag-order from Trump..He is very litigious, but I am completely speculating on all this because of the black out.
There’s a difference between Trump and May. May is deliberately concealing her plan, in order to hide the fact that she doesn’t have one. Trump is bellowing, but will probably end up not changing policy very much. May doesn’t have this choice; she has to come up with something new.
That’s out of my expertise. I just know there is a kind of weird dealer/junkie relationship in the Trump phenom. Maybe you could relate, but I don’t think May reaches Trump level.
It’s like Jim Jones followers…the passion, the energy…the disassociation with the facts and logic.
They are captivated as though cultists. I jokingly refer to Munich no more.
I dunno. Trump doesn’t really care about policy. It’s an ego trip. Ending up with the conventional line seems to me the most likely.
You might find this interesting, depending on the level of interest..
https://www.jacobinmag.com/2016/10/donald-trump-voter-fraud-rigged-presidential-election/
Always interested in all ways to hijack elections, but see no mention of enlisting foreign powers to help out, hijacking voting machines, bribing voters to vote by absentee ballots for the deceased and departed, getting election officials join the process, withholding results until the chosen winner reaches the expected target, and never having any serious inquiry into the massive corruption.
Up until Trump, though, both parties pretty much cancelled out the others hijinks in the process.
Who were those allegations of Republican voter-rigging supposed to be against which comment?
Totally ignored in the msm. The Chagos Islanders just dont exist. Pinter was so right.
“… Imperial British rule may have treated the population better than post colonial governments. ..”
It is to misunderstand the nature of imperialism to differentiate ‘post colonial governments’ from imperial rule. The one flows from the other in a multitude of ways. Most post colonial governments are dealing with the task of governing constituencies which are entirely imperial constructs (think of Nigeria for example).
The truth is that around the world the long term consequences of arbitrary decisions by imperialists are the source of terrible problems. One example is Palestine. India-Pakistan-Bangla Desh-Sri Lanka-Burma is another set of such problems.
So zerohedge is not telling us anything that we didn’t know, except that they don’t think very clearly.
And don’t forget the problems US imperialism imposed on Cuba, Panama, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the Philippines, Korea, Japan, Diego Garcia, islands in the Western Pacific like Guam, etc.
You have a blind spot when it comes to Uncle Sam’s alleged burdens.
“You have a blind spot when it comes to Uncle Sam’s alleged burdens.”
Not at all, but Uncle Sam’s most egregious imperialist crimes were committed between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, long before William McKinley’s day.
Foreaxample:
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2016/11/24/indians-slaves-and-mass-murder-the-hidden-history/?
Hardly true, as the settlement of the Cuban Missile Crisis would have resulted in a nuclear war which would have brutally killed most of humanity if JFK had not seen to it being settled peacefully, and it would have occurred for real thirteen months later if the conspiracy which assassinated him had not seriously wounded co-conspiritor Texas Governor John B. Connally in the process, and he threatened to get those who had apparently double-crossed him.
Shocker. Trowbridge has his own JFK conspiracy.
Hardly my own theory as it was published in three issues of Tom Valentine’s The National Exchange nearly forty years ago.
Changing the subject: we are talking about imperialism, especially American, not nation-building.
Oh right.
So slaughtering millions whilst building a state is fine.
But slaughtering millions whilst building an empire is not fine.
What moral code is that?
I agree. I was simply surprised that such a pro- Russian web site should have any positive observation, and ZH’s statement was a limited comment relating to the writer’s father’s thoughts on India. ZH was simply expressing displeasure at the current government of India’s treatment of the poor in relation to the recent abolition of certain denominations of Indian currency.