There are 32,000 Gibraltarians organised into 11,400 households. Extraordinarily there are more registered companies than households, including 8,464 registered offshore companies.
The Government of Gibraltar’s own website is notably candid about its tax haven activities. It urges you to establish there so you can take advantage of:
Highly-developed business services infrastructure where it is possible to passport an EU licence in financial services such as insurance and re-insurance, EU-wide pensions, banking and funds administration, amongst others.
Distribute competitively priced VAT-free goods and services to the markets of the EU and Africa.
Conduct business in a quality low-tax jurisdiction with a profit oriented capital base at low levels of corporate tax, all in a stable currency with few restrictions in moving capital or repatriating dividends.
It is no wonder Gibraltar voted 96% pro-EU. Its entire economy rests upon the use of its anomalous status to undercut the tax regimes of genuine EU members. Remarkably for a population the size of Ramsgate, there are 17 registered banks in Gibraltar, including Credit Suisse, the money laundering giant raided by combined European police forces yet again yesterday, and RBS/Natwest’s tax avoidance entity.
Gibraltar was occupied by England (yes, England) in 1704 when it was sacked by the Hessian Prince George (wry smile Hessian – sacked) and 90% of the Spanish population fled after being subjected to mass rape.
Britnats have been all over twitter this last 24 hours shouting that Gibraltar was given to Britain “in perpetuity” by the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713. Thankfully the world has changed since 1713. The Treaty of Utrecht also gave Brazil to Portugal, much of Italy to the Hapsburgs and gave Britain the monopoly on the shipping of African slaves to South America. Thankfully none of those turned out to be perpetual and the British occupation of Gibraltar is equally immoral and anachronistic. That the Foreign and Commonwealth still quotes the Treaty of Utrecht is evidence of the moral bankruptcy of the British government’s position.
There is a key point here. Empires cannot cloak their continued Imperial possessions under the “right of self-determination” of Imperial client populations. Still less is there a “right of self-determination” for an entire Imperial client population to leech off tax avoidance activities by virtue of their Imperial possession status. The right of self-determination does not apply to the colonists of Gibraltar, who like the Falklanders are an introduced Imperial population – contrary to myth the large majority of Gibraltarians are not descended from the original Spanish population. Gibraltar is plainly listed by the UN as a Non Self Governing Territory. Self-determination is not applicable in international law. UN General Assembly Resolution 2353 specifically asserted that Gibraltar is a colony which impinges on the territorial integrity of Spain and thus on Spanish right to self-determination, and that a referendum of the colonial population could not change that.
Britain’s fervidly jingoistic attempts to hold on to its remaining colonies are pathetic. I have a memory as a very small child of watching Rolf Harris on TV dressed in union jacks singing “Please Don’t Alter Gibraltar” to the tune of Land of Hope and Glory. Google has just reassured me this really happened and was not a nightmare. I now realise from the timing that was a riposte to the UN General Assembly discussions. That it was Rolf Harris gives the perfect pointer to the grossly immoral British position on Gibraltar.
Ironies abound.
Irony 1
It is the Little England Brexiteers who are frothing at the mouth over the EU saying it will take heed of Spain’s position on Gibraltar – despite the fact the Gibraltarians voted 96% in favour of the EU.
They cry, how dare the EU take into account the position of the United Nations and of its member state, Spain, against what will be a non-member state? Who could have seen that coming?
Irony 2
Gibraltarians of course voted in favour of the EU in order to benefit from the opportunity to continue undermining EU tax regimes.
Irony 3
The Daddy of them all. The Britnats who crowed repeatedly at Scots, extolling alleged (and improbable) Spanish desire to veto Scottish EU membership, are shocked, shocked that Spain may veto a Brexit settlement over Gibraltar.
Anyway, to cheer up you Britnats, here is a picture of the massive audience for Theresa May’s recent Glasgow speech. Dressed as Rolf Harris. Altogether now “Please Don’t Alter Gibraltar”.
“I wonder what the emblem on an independent (and not in the EU) Scotland passport might be.
Constructive suggestions, anyone?”
____________________
I note that an inoffensively humorous suggestion by Norton iro my question has been deleted. Humour Deficiency Syndrome on a Sunday morning?
Hababkuk, were you perhaps hoping someone would suggest the approriate Royal armorial bearings, with (wait for it) the extra unicorn?
Misspelled Poppycock again, sorry! 🙂
I was disappointed by this article (a first!). “The right of self-determination does not apply to the colonists of Gibraltar”. Seriously? The actually existing community of 32,000 people surely must have some say in what happens to Gibraltar? Among that 32,000 no political party or pressure group supports union with Spain. In a referendum in 2002 that community rejected a joint sovereignty proposal (by 98.48%). What are you proposing in relation to that 32,000 strong “Imperial client population” (otherwise known as the people who live in Gibraltar)? You seem to be entirely dismissive of the notion the might have any rights.
“Britain’s fervidly jingoistic attempts to hold on to its remaining colonies are pathetic” Prior to 2002 the then Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was happily discussing the future of Gibraltar with Spain and (after secret talks) announced that “the UK was willing to share sovereignty of Gibraltar with Spain”. When the Government of Gibraltar then decided to hold its own referendum regarding this proposal, Jack Straw described it as “eccentric” and the UK’s Foreign Office announced it would not recognize its results. It is difficult to describe this as fervidly hanging on to Gibraltar.
Britain only ever wants to hang on to its “colonies” when it suits them (think Falkland’s War – fought as a means to improve Thatcher standing). On those occasions it will play the jingoistic card for all it is worth. Most of the time Britain is casually indifferent or even willing to beat a post-imperial retreat, and what is “pathetic” is how little it really cares about the wishes of the people of those communities.
yes Mike, they just had a say, and the overwhelming majority wants to stay in Europe, which means leaving the UK. Should they be denied this choice?
How could we demand that Gibraltar follows into the unknown when they made their choice clear?
They would have to vote to join the EU independently of the UK. They voted to stay in the EU under the governance of the UK. Neither of these was a vote to be ruled by Spain.
I wonder… back in 1997, what did the loyal British subjects though when they were told they was going to be bargained to China, under very special conditions of autonomy…
Poor People, sold because… what? where they not good enough?, because the rest of Britain did give a #!#@, because China was very far away to successfully defend that position, because… all of the above?
Facts are noone raised a hand saying… hey!!! The Loyal subjects of Hong Kong don’t want to become Chinese!!! lets defend them!!! their rights!!!
What will they think now about Gibraltar? about Brexit and about themselves?
The UK never owned Hong Kong it was on a 100 year lease which expired in 1997. The only way they could’ve legally stayed on was if the Chinese were prepared to negotiate an extension; which they weren’t. Refusing to move out wasn’t an option, all the Chinese would’ve had to have done was turn off the water supply.
All but the New territories were held in perpetuity. Margaret Thatcher threatened to hold onto them but was told by China where she could get off. The fact is, Gibraltar is in no danger of being invaded. It can carry on as a naval base on the way to a vanished empire and make it’s money from sightseers, knocking shops and pubs, just like in the old days. If the UK wants to pay for it and Gibraltarians are so determined to stay British that they put up with it, all well and good.
Really John? Knocking shops? You obviously know Gibraltar much better than I do – where exactly are these knocking shops of which you speak so casually?
My point is the citizens of Hong Kong didn’t have a free choice to stay British or go to be Chinese. Their free choice wasn’t defended. Their voices were disregarded…
Also I don’t think the Utrecht treaty have been followed, so when there is interest in following the treaty (with China) it’s followed to the letter, did we say 99 years? so be it. But the Utrecht..mmm well not so much. Was it?
Think you will find international law trumps your thoughts and opinions.
“Of course, Czechoslovakia did not have Western guarantees and fell to the Germans while Poland did have guarantees and also fell to the Germans.”
I am not sure that you are right about Czechoslovakia which had ‘guarantees’ from France if not the UK which were removed in Munich, as the ‘west’ tried to appease Germany with a view to turning its attention to the east, and Russia.
Poland had ‘guarantees’ in the form of a non-aggression pact with Germany, but, refused to enter into agreement with the USSR, which offered Czechoslovakia an alliance against German aggression provided that Poland give it permission to march through a southern corridor.
It is time that people realised that it was ‘western’ appeasers, not only French and British but American too, fascinated by the prospect-which Hitler hang in front of them like a carrot to donkeys- that Germany would conquer Bolshevism, on their behalf, who were largely responsible for the War. The USSR made repeated, well documented and planned attempts to persuade the west, firstly that Hitler was dangerous and secondly that a defensive agreement including the USSR would make war impossible.
All such advances were either directly rejected or allowed to die by inaction or sloth. The USSR got the message: hence the Molotov and Ribbentrop conferences and the non aggression pact.
The key role in the proceedings was that of the fascist regime in Poland which hated the USSR and had a long standing pact with Hitler aimed at dismembering it and installing a fascist government there.
All of which, well known in the ’30s and ’40s has been largely forgotten during the blizzard of historical disinformation and anti-communist propaganda which has formed the education of successive generations in the ‘west’.
Tri-partite talks between the UK, France and the USSR carried on up to the invasion of Poland. The sticking point was the refusal of the Polish government to allow Soviet troops to cross Poland. Poland repelled a Soviet invasion in 1920 so had good reason to be wary of Soviet intentions, they feared that once on Polish soil they’d not leave which of course turned out to be the case.
The German – USSR non aggression pact led to Poland being divided up between USSR and Germany and the USSR being totally unprepared for the Nazi invasion in 1941 despite being warned by British and their own intelligence services. Which of course is just what the Nazis wanted.
Now that you mention the Soviet Union, the Ribbentrop Pact, didn’t go down to well in Finland.
The Finns were so unhappy with Molotov’s (a nickname meaning hammer in Russian) attacks dressed up as friendly propaganda, that they named the Molotov Cocktail in his dishonour.
The Finns refined the incendiary device, which they had earlier gleaned the idea to use from General Franco’s government troops.
As for Molotov, he was only one of four members of the 1917 Revoultionary government, to survive Stalin’s 1930’s purges.
Republicofscotland
I’ve noticed your tendency to pepper your posts with little anecdotes and factlets of late. All very interesting, of course, but a little like one of our commenters who specialises in cut-and-paste and another one who keeps telling us about the books he’s just been reading. Ie, little relevant substance, indicative perhaps that you’re getting tired of hammering on about Scotch independence, Brexit and President Putin.
Have you considered a career in pub quizzes or games shows?
What’s the matter Habb.
Feel out of your depth? ?
No, it’s just that I find all those little anecdotes and fact-lets a bit silly. If your independence – and-Brexit-fever is beginning to bore even you and if you can’t find anything else of substance to write about, wouldn’t it just be better if you just kept quiet for a while? Don’t worry, we won’t forget who you are if you post a little less frequently 🙂
Well Habb, you don’t need to read them, just do as I do with your comments, and skip on by. ?
I’m sure you won’t feel offended by that, as many commentors already skip by your comments on a regular basis.
itz bcoz he iz a GREAT WRITER
1930s Poland concluded non-aggression pacts with both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Russia.
With respect to the Soviet-polish non-aggression pact, here is an excerpt from Wikipedia:
“After the Polish–Soviet War, the Polish authorities pursued a policy of “equal distance” between Germany and the Soviet Union. Most of Polish politicians, both on the left and right, believed that Poland should rely mostly on the crucial alliance with France dating back to World War I and should not support either Germany or the Soviet Union.
To normalize the bilateral contacts with the Soviet Union, talks were started in January 1926 to prepare a non-aggression treaty. The treaty was to fortify the Polish gains of the Peace of Riga and was to be balanced by a similar pact signed with Germany. However, the talks with Germany were not started, and the Polish–Soviet talks were interrupted in June 1927, after Great Britain broke diplomatic relations with the USSR and Soviet plenipotentiary Pyotr Voykov was murdered in Warsaw. Instead, Poland applied to the Briand-Kellogg Pact of 1928. The Polish-Soviet negotiations were resumed in Moscow, in 1931. The pact was finally signed on July 25, 1932, effective for a three-year period. Ratifications were exchanged in Warsaw on December 23, 1932, and it went into effect on the same day. It was registered in League of Nations Treaty Series on January 9, 1933.[1] On May 5, 1934 it was extended to December 31, 1945 without amendment. Among other topics, both sides agreed to renounce violence in bilateral relations, to resolve their problems through negotiations and to forgo any armed conflict or alliances aimed at the other side.
On September 23, 1938, the Soviet Union sent a note to the Polish government informing it that the pact will be considered null and void in the case of Poland’s participation in the occupation of Czechoslovakia [1]. However, this threat was not carried out, as the Soviet government stated on October 31, after Poland occupied Zaolzie area, that the pact remained in force [2]. and it was reaffirmed by the two powers on November 26, 1938 (see [3]). Finally the pact was broken[citation needed] by the Soviets on September 17, 1939, when the Red Army joined Nazi Germany’s forces in their invasion of Poland, in accordance[citation needed] with the secret protocols of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact.
The pact was considered at the time as a major success of the Polish diplomacy, much weakened by the toll war with Germany, renouncement of parts of the Treaty of Versailles and loosened links with France. It also reinforced the Polish negotiating position with Germany, which resulted in signing of the German–Polish Non-Aggression Pact eighteen months later.”
To be noted that the Polish-German non-aggression pact was unilaterally denounced by the German side in April 1939 and the Soviet-¨Polish non-aggression pact was simply broken by the Soviet Union in September 1939.
To be noted, finally, that the charge of “fascism” was and is commonly levelled against pre-war Poland by apologists for the Soviet Union, presumably in an effort to excuse the various misdeeds of the then Communist régime. It is an exercise in diversion.
19 minutes of one of the wisest men to have walked the planet in modern times:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5MR7pBFA0k
Perhaps the disciple would like to read this account by Radha Rajagopal Sloss about her father’s cuckolding by the said Krishnamurti.
The Shadow Side of Krishnamurti
https://tricycle.org/magazine/the-shadow-side-krishnamurti/
‘And they who bettered life on earth by their newly found mastery’
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/02/bob-dylan-finally-accepts-nobel-prize-in-literature-at-private-ceremony-in-stockholm
So the FCO has expressed regret, that an egg was thrown at a Saudi major general who was visiting Britain last week.
We can’t have commoners throwing eggs at Britain’s great ally. It wouldn’t do to insult, the golden goose, who buys our weapons and cluster bombs, that shred Yemeni citizens, on a daily basis.
Prince Charles, may now have to go over to Saudi Arabia, and dance his poor wee heart out, in order to appease the money men, all because of an egg.
https://www.964eagle.co.uk/news/uk-news/2259934/britain-expresses-regret-after-egg-is-thrown-at-saudi-general/
The Scottish yolk hero Jim Murphy could accompany His Royal Highness.
reel guid.
Ah good old Henry Jackson Society Jim.
Incidently on the egg thingy, traditionally the toque (no not a narcotic cigarette) a chefs tall white hat, had 100 pleats in it, each represented a way in which an egg could be cooked. ?
The Brexiteers have succeeded where many of Britain’s historic enemies have failed – to break up the United Kingdom. Scotland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar; even London and Wales now wish they could break away. Well done guys – I hope you will like the country that you are getting back……
Marlyin.
I read recently that Wales was (officially) only recognised as a country in 2011. By the influential International Organisation for Standardisation.
However I’m sure the good people of Wales saw it differently. ?
Thanks but I haven’t seen any sign of the UK breaking up.
Look out the window.
The people of Gibraltar will be sacrificial to the outcome of Brexit, just like those who did not vote or were not allowed a say in the referendum. But desperation on her behalf can’t be overcome by threats. This from Markus Becker of der Spiegel.
“Theresa May, by contrast, finds herself in a position that could hardly be weaker. In only two years, she must lead the highly complicated negotiations to a successful conclusion — a task which is, to put it mildly, rather ambitious. It’s made even more complicated by the fact that she must fight on multiple fronts: Scotland, Northern Ireland, Brussels, the British economy and domestic British politics. If she doesn’t succeed, a so-called “dirty Brexit” looms, the departure from the EU without a trade deal. Were that to happen, British trade with the EU would then be conducted on the basis of WTO rules. For the EU that would be unpleasant; for the UK it would likely be a catastrophe. The British Treasury has predicted that the country’s gross domestic product could shrink by 7.5 percent in such a scenario and tax shortfalls would amount to 45 billion pounds.”
http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/brexit-eu-negotiations-set-for-disappointment-a-1141119.html
complete twaddle.
“The son of the radical cleric Abu Hamza has been stripped of his UK passport after he travelled to Syria to fight against Bashar al-Assad’s forces, according to reports.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/02/abu-hamzas-son-stripped-of-uk-passport
Strange that he goes off to fight Assad, and British policy is the one of the removal of Assad, it would appear that there’s no honour among thieves.
However Abu Hamza’s is by all accounts fighting a religious war, Britain on the otherhand seeks financial and collective territorial access as does its allies, hoping to control Syria.
Srs. ingleses su imperio se ha terminado, están en declive, los alemanes son muy superiores a ustedes y los franceses van camino de ello. Dentro de muy poco serán un país viejo, con historia, pero en declive. Volverán a la piratería?, a asesinar índígenas?. Me temo que han caído bajo politicos de muy poca altura!!.
Gibraltar, es, va a ser y será español. No creo que merezca una guerra, como un tonto ha dicho, pero tengan muy claro algo: Jamás derrotarán al pueblo español.pueblo que aunque pobre es orgulloso, honrado y que hace de uno de sus ideales el HONOR y como dijo el Almirante Blas de Lezo, el que les infringió una derrota épica en Cartagena de Indias: Más vale morir de pié que vivir arrodillados. Eso Jamás!! y tengánlo por seguro, Gibraltar será español, aunque el tonto de Picardo diga o contrario.
Ah! Las armas nucleares se desarrollan en 2/3 años!!. o sea no jueguen con eso!!
. Dentro de muy poco serán un país viejo, con historia, pero en declive. Volverán a la piratería?, a asesinar índígenas?.
________
After using Goole translate, on your comment, which mentions British piracy, I take it you’re a bit miffed at Spain not having control of Gibralter.
You’ll be even more miffed to find out that Sir William Penn took Jamaica from the Spanish as well.
Penn’s son went on to found Pennsylvania, who named it after his father Sir William.
Are you Jose-Maria Aznar?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdG57lgHFaA
This little vid could be applied to the cybernats, as well.
Srs. ingleses su imperio se ha terminado, están en declive, los alemanes son muy superiores a ustedes y los franceses van camino de ello. Dentro de muy poco serán un país viejo, con historia, pero en declive. Volverán a la piratería?, a asesinar índígenas?. Me temo que han caído bajo politicos de muy poca altura!!.
Gibraltar, es, va a ser y será español. No creo que merezca una guerra, como un tonto ha dicho, pero tengan muy claro algo: Jamás derrotarán al pueblo español.pueblo que aunque pobre es orgulloso, honrado y que hace de uno de sus ideales el HONOR y como dijo el Almirante Blas de Lezo, el que les infringió una derrota épica en Cartagena de Indias: Más vale morir de pié que vivir arrodillados. Eso Jamás!! y tengánlo por seguro, Gibraltar será español, aunque el tonto de Picardo diga o contrario.
Ah! Las armas nucleares se desarrollan en 2/3 años!!. o sea no jueguen con eso!!
Are you the Caudillo’s grandson?
Well done to Johanna Konta and her first win in a premier mandatory tournament. She has blossomed into a really good tennis player and seems to be a nice person too.
But everywhere on social media it’s union jacks union jacks and back the brits hashtags to celebrate her win.
She was not representing Team GB. The Miami Open is a tour event and is for individuals.
What makes it more ridiculous is that Jo would have qualified to play Fed Cup and Olympics for Hungary and Australia too.
How appalling that 20 people stood watching that attack on the 17 year old boy in Croydon.
Croydon asylum boy assault: Up to 20 people watched attack
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-39470487
virtue signalling
You mean that they were all ‘virtue signalling’? Did they have no time to intervene?
Hate signalling.
Innocent Middle Easterners get attacked by Westerners when they’re in their own countries in the Middle East. Now they are getting attacked when they come here to escape.
Reminds me of something Mohandas Ghandi said when someone asked him what he thought of western civilisation. He replied that he thought it would be a good idea.
Yes, yes.
And Mao Tse Tung, when asked about the effects of the French Revolution, apparently replied that it was too early to tell.
Please don’t turn into a second “Republicofscotland”, spouting irrelevant anecdotes and pub-quiz-like factlets
Factoids if you please.
Factlets indeed!
That quote was made in 1972 by Chou En Lai, otherwise Zhou Enlai, apparently in talks just before the visit of Nixon to China. It was not Mao Tse Tung. Google is your friend, O prophet…..Rofl.
Oh, sorry! Mao was the bad guy wasn’t he and Chou the good ‘un. LOL
In fact a misunderstanding too delicious to invite correction http://www.historytoday.com/blog/news-blog/dean-nicholas/zhou-enlais-famous-saying-debunked
I remember the comment ‘s being attributed to ‘a Chinese historian’ way before the Chou En Lai/ Kissinger love-in. It seems one of those nuggets of wsidom variously attributed to Churchill,Clemencau ,Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, etc..
The recent visit by Hollande to thre Grand Orient Lodge on its 300th anniversary year seems to have reignited the debate as to the flame- fanners (if not instigators) of the French Revolution . Compensation for La Vendee !
As I recoillect it was originally said, in reference to the 1789 version, by an English historian of the late C19th. I suspect that, just as Mark Twain actually said “As Disraeli says ‘there are lies, damned lies and statistics’ what chou actually said was “To quote… It is really too early to say.’
“Reminds me of something Mohandas Ghandi said when someone asked him what he thought of western civilisation. He replied that he thought it would be a good idea.”
_______________________
Did Mr Gandhi ever say anything equally witty about the Indian caste system, I wonder?
If he did, his fellow countrymen obviously weren’t listening…..
Brilliant lateral thought Habby, keep those gems coming!
If Gandhi was honest, he would’ve used his influence and told the people that all religions, including his own, Hinduism was leading them up the garden path. Despite that I maintain that Islam is *the* most aggressive religion foisted on humanity. And Hinduism and Buddhism are far more pragmatic, accommodative and flexible-minded.
A quick comparison of people of Indian/Hindu-Sikh origin when compared with Pakistanis in Britain falling foul of the law will provide the necessary evidence.
Alc:
What research/evidence are you relying on, here?
Just asking…
What is your contention?
https://www.quora.com/What-were-Gandhis-views-on-Casteism
Gandhi said a lot, although perhaps not as witty.
I suspect he did less than he may have wanted, because he had to pick his battles. The pawn is less valuable than the bishop or even the horse.
Perhaps you are unaware of why Gandhi was assassinated and by whom?
“Reminds me of something Mohandas Ghandi said when someone asked him what he thought of western civilisation. He replied that he thought it would be a good idea.”
Except of course it’s unlikely he ever actually said it. The earliest references researchers have found is 1967, 19 years after his death.
Young man gets beat up by other youths who don’t know him.
We are in dog bites man territory here. This is pretty much the experience of every Scotsman who grew up in an urban area in the pre internet era when gangs of teenagers still roamed the streets. I believe it was known as Postcode Wars in London.
yes it is Sharp ears. It is a far greater indictment that 20 people watched the teenager being beaten to a pulp than the action instead. It shows that the general public is not immune to the right wing rants of far out city gents and wannabe politician as well as this Governments threats.
‘The police is inviting the 20 people looking on this crime to come forward’
To come forward? they should be volunteering their statements in a good old fashioned queue outside Croydon constabulary, if not they should be asked in no uncertain terms to give evidence. Is Croydon just like Harlow or Gt. Yarmouth, in Brendan lewis MP constituency were homeless people in front of a soup kitchen got beaten up by a gang of cyclists who are terrorising the town on two wheels?
As for Gibraltar and has been Michael Howards threats. Michael Howard hasn’t thought it through before opening his trap, or he is prepared to have another 255 soldiers die over this spat, and what of the Gibraltarian civilians and the Spanish adversaries we would be fighting off, how many victims can a hollowed out past empire get away with in 21st century Europe?
Michael Howard certainly did not offer to lead these soldiers up the rock, a right wing clown goading from the sidelines.
Police getting trigger happy
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-39472005
Police shoot dogs after man and woman bitten in Bolton
Supt Chris Allsop said: “Highly trained officers responded quickly to the scene and took control to avoid the situation from escalating.”
If the police were shooting in the street, things had already escalated.
The existence of the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla is as anachronistic as was the existence of various European enclaves along the west coast of India (Goa, Pondicherry, etc).
The only difference being that the Indian govt had the cojones (if I may use that Spanish word) to take them over not so long after independence….
Through all the comment on Craig’s article on Gibraltar I cannot see that anyone has pinned down
-how the mainstream [non-smuggler/big money] inhabitants would actually suffer from incorporation into Spain;
–why the UK considers that it has a dog in this fight, given that the “people” of Gib overwhelmingly want to stay in the EU.
..Further, multiple, absurdities…
..for starters, note that Gib, that claims to be British, and is entirely dependent on the UK to fend off “corrupt” Spain, has been demonstrably unwelcoming to the Royal Navy, in need.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jan/27/gibraltar.ianblack
That “cake” reference keeps coming back (referencing both Gib and HMG).
Bobm “Spain, has been demonstrably unwelcoming to the Royal Navy, in need.”
From when I was in the RN the were unwelcome then.
I also remember cops pistol whipping Moroccans just for fun.
Gibraltar is a strategic asset so Spain will have very little chance getting it back.
And just in:
“The Gatestone Institute reports Sunday on the striking rate of closures of churches in the United Kingdom’s capital city, a trend mirrored elsewhere in Europe, and the blooming number of mosques that have been established in their stead.
Reporting on the change in religious observation in London, the Gatestone Institute writes:
“London is more Islamic than many Muslim countries put together”, according to Maulana Syed Raza Rizvi, one of the Islamic preachers who now lead “Londonistan”, as the journalist Melanie Phillips has called the English capital. No, Rizvi is not a right-wing extremist. Wole Soyinka, a Nobel Laureate for Literature, was less generous; he called the UK “a cesspit for Islamists”.
………
Given the current trends, Christianity in England is becoming a relic, while Islam will be the religion of the future.”
http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/04/02/gatestone-institute-423-new-mosques-500-closed-churches-london/
_________
Wake up and smell the incense.
Wake up and smell the bacon, more like.
Nice crack(ling) there for a change RobG. Glenn may not be altogether wrong. Btw, try reading your own late-night comments when you wake up in the morning–they smell more of blood than wine or coffee.
Once again, credit given where credit due.
Craig Murray
May I suggest that Alcyone’s response [20.18] to my posts of 19.05 and 19.57 both fails to deal in good faith with my points, and is both racist and inflammatory.
Bobm, it’s par for the course in these parts. It’s Craig’s board and you just have to accept what strikes many people as a perhaps strange moderation policy.
At least you’re still sort of allowed to speak here.
This, while the lights are increasingly going out all over the West.
But still the pressitutes continue to pump out that ever more hollow refrain: ‘freedom and democracy’.
At least the Russians can manage to retain a sense of humour…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjw8lIAGMU8
The entire world is laughing at the complete joke that Uncle Sam & Co have become.
I fully expect this post to be moderated, because, *erhum*, we live in ‘freedom and democracy’ and ‘they’ hate us for it.
Thank you, Hab.
Would you like to try a specific, relevant response to my two posts, while the moderators consider?
The mods are not going to consider, Bobby. They tend to ignore requests from people who misuse words like “racist”. And they are right to do so. Buzz orf.
Thank you, ALC.
Would you like to try a specific, relevant response to my two posts, while the moderators consider?
On behalf of Alcyone : please refer to Habbabkuk’s comment at 22h26, Bobby.
Well, thank you both.
This Bobbie clearly doesn’t need the moderators to flush out tandem operators who cannot provide substantive answers to sensible questions.
Good night, both.
Moderators of the Church of SCOTLAND
by any chance you Bobydazzler?
I have no issues with the moderation here. Online, generally I think you have to allow some give and take, and accept some abuse. I don’t refer to your specific issue – I’m not a mod – just speaking generally. The US has basically gone insane, and they are rapidly turning YouTube into a gigantic safe space for morons (I do not accuse anyone here of being a moron). I’d hate that to become the norm, though alas it seems to be happening. Basically, they just want the internet to be ‘content’ (paid, of course), entirely devoid of politics, but with a ‘healthy’ propaganda message. Not good.
I miss the days when the internet was the wild west. Like everything else, the fun regulators always get involved.
http://www.mintpressnews.com/amid-aipac-protests-two-alleged-jdl-members-charged-with-assaulting-protesters/226479/
‘Mouldy old dough’ by Lieutenant pigeon is one of the most unlikely songs ever to reach Number 1. The song was recorded and produced by Rob Woodward, in the front room of his mother Hilda’s semi-detached in Coventry (just down the road from what is now the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights); but don’t get me on to synchronicity. They used Hilda’s front room because it had the best acoustics. Hilda plays piano here, on what is perhaps one of the finest comments on our present day politics…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO5GWJJP3FM
The Spanish and British flag waving over Gibraltar is a form of patriotic virtue signalling that isn’t really about or serves Gibraltar. Gibraltar is the pretext for the flag waving that would be consumed in any conflict if the flag waving got out of hand as all sides know, but matters are complicated by the Falklands war where the flag waving, by the Argentinians, did get out of hand, due in part to the actions and inactions of UK government that ‘invited’ them in. The government was seeking a way to negotiate away these imperial legacy micro-territories whilst securing a good deal for the natives, but after a war, its not so easy to do so, even if it means destroying the village to save it!
Correct, Gib is all about flag waving.
I suspect that there never is /was any intention on our governments part or on the part of the E.U. Elite to have a friendly parting.
What I can’t yet fathom out is the two year hiatus.
Why wait, if you don’t want a settlement, why not just go hard, straight away.
The United Kingdom is facing a “right wing coup” as Saint Theresa May pushes ahead with “an extreme Tory Brexit,” the Green Party’s co-leaders have claimed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39456777
Sore losers want another referendum because the people voted the wrong way.
Those saying this are totally right, in my opinion.
If that’s your opinion then that persuades me that they must be totally wrong.
Behind the grandstanding, the S. N. P. is in relentless decline
https://reaction.life/behind-grandstanding-snp-relentless-decline/
Michael, Labour got wiped-out in Scotland. It was the biggest political turn-around in more than a century.
You can’t ignore things like this.
People thought the SNP was a safe alternative to Labour, the referendum was over and they said in their electioneering that a vote for SNP wasn’t a vote for another referendum.
People won’t trust them again.
When is the last time you went there…….
Gibraltar? June 2015.
One assumes that after you have given it to Spain, you will be a regular attendee at the new Gibraltar Bullfighting arena.
There is much indignation(spontaneous and tolerated)in the Chinese blogosphere and on the streets of Paris about the murder of a Chinese resident by French police.This could result in a big drop in tourist revenues for France and a boycott/avoidance of French products.Could our Gallic commentators explain the French government’s failure to apologise or promise a full investigation. Do they (Hollande et al.) not know etiquette?Have they no elder brother?
Just now on the BBC News Channel – a programme announcement on a banner.
‘The future of Gibralter’ (sic)
https://twitter.com/JulianAssange/status/848710934470307841
Julian Assange
@JulianAssange
I cordially invite Lasso to leave Ecuador within 30 days (with or without his tax haven millions) https://twitter.com/wikileaks/status/848445940692377600 … #AssangeSILassoNO
———–
Nice one Julian, brilliant actually! Some dramatic relief required these days.
How apt.
‘Spotters’ Guide
Neil Fulwood / April 2nd, 2017
Here’s to the media (neutral, understated)
for kindly explaining how it all goes down:
mentalist cuts loose with weapon (black) –
socio-economic, drugs, gang-related;
mentalist cuts loose with weapon (brown) –
Muslim, radicalised, terror attack;
mentalist cuts loose with weapon (white) –
troubled loner, sympathy for his plight.
Neil Fulwood is the author of film studies book The Films of Sam Peckinpah. His poetry has appeared in Dissident Voice, The Morning Star, The Interpreter’s House, The Lampeter Review, Art Decades and The Black Light Engine Room. He is co-editor, with David Sillitoe, of the anthology More Raw Material, work inspired by Alan Sillitoe (Lucifer Press). His debut poetry collection, No Avoiding It, is forthcoming from Shoestring Press in 2017. ‘
http://dissidentvoice.org/2017/04/spotters-guide/
This is total nonsense…
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/03/emmanuel-macron-french-presidential-candidate-grassroots-movement
Much like Obama, Macron has apparently appeared out of nowhere and is being heavily promoted by the media. What I find funniest about it is that they’re trying to latch-on to the ‘grassroots movement’ stuff. This shows how frightened they are of people like Corbyn and Mélenchon, who are the real deal. Talking of which, here’s part of a recent speech by Mélenchon (there should be English sub-titles, if not click on the first little icon on the right of the tool bar). Notice the size of the crowd. No other French presidential candidate can draw crowds of this size (Macron is a joke in this respect)…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWyzI1hEkf4
Treeza’s off to the Wahhabi head choppers and bombers to sell them even more weapons with which to kill the Yemeni people.
‘Mrs May is also visiting Saudi Arabia during her trip where the focus will be on strengthening trade and security ties as Britain prepares to leave the EU.
She said it was “clearly in the UK’s security and prosperity interests” to support Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
“To tackle the threats we face from terrorism and from geopolitical instability, we must meet them at their source,” she said ahead of the visit.’
Calling into Amman too to meet the Sandhurst trained Western puppet king.
UK to send military trainers to Jordan to help fight IS
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39475124
Ever since independence (and probably before, for that matter) the Yemenis have done a good job killing each other all by themselves. Saudi arms have changed little; the Yemenis are a fractious bunch, as indeed are most Arabs.
I spat my fag with laughter when I read this comment. Cause this place is a bastion of reasoned debate between right thinking white european folk, right?
Only 5 minutes earlier Habb’s previous comment was:
How frightfully araby of the old boy.
BP getting out of
THE NORTH SEA
Ministry of Truth
BP sells Forties North Sea pipeline to Ineos
22 minutes ago
From the section Scotland business
Ineos is best known in Britain for its shale gas fracking operations.
I thought S. N. P. were against Fracking?
Norton, please change your email and thereby your colour. Looks a little too much like the shitty colour of the virus.
When the S. N. P. make Scotland an Independent Country outside of the U. K. and outside of the E.U.
will they force Ineos to re-locate its Headquarters from England to Scotland?
A weak response from the Trump administration to the latest Israeli illegality.
Israeli Cabinet approves new settlement, first in 2 decades
Mar. 30, 2017 AP
‘The White House pointedly avoided any specific condemnation of the announcement, although it said that further settlement activity “does not help advance peace” and that it expects Israel to show restraint moving forward. Still, the relatively tepid response was a far cry from the automatic condemnations voiced by the Obama’s administration in reaction to Israeli settlement announcements. The White House statement even went so far as to “welcome” what appears to be a limited Israeli commitment to take Trump’s concerns about settlements into “consideration,” without any guarantees to avoid similar announcements.’
http://bigstory.ap.org/b75f552554f74fe6adbf4ee055b3ecb6
but WW111 is threatened here
Trump ready to ‘solve’ North Korea problem without China
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39475178
What is Trump’s plan? He had better be very careful.