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”.
What I am getting at is this:
When the S. N. P. make Scotland an Independent Country outside of the U.K. and outside of the E.U.
how will they encourage firms to domicile in Scotland, what would be the incentives, that would lure them in?
This article is well worth reading. The author Craig Murray, is the very same intrepid gentleman who was the UK ambassador to Uzbekistan and was sacked for the impertinence of bringing attention to the embarrassing fact (to the US and UK that is) that political prisoners were being boiled to death.
One can’t help wondering why he didn’t remain in Kent to fight for the rights of those “migrants” entering the country hidden in the back of trucks instead of running away to live in Scotland? He could, for example, have set up an organisation helping them to get to Scotland where they would be safe from of those “terrible racist little Englanders”, if you see what I’m saying.
Sometimes I do wonder if poor old Craig had such a traumatic experience dealing with the uk state that it’s sent him round the twist a bit. He’s about as Scottish as I am – i.e. Half but grew up in the UK I’m very proud of my scots heritage but I’m a product of a southeast up bringing and I am definitely in both camps, the idea of Scotland and England splitting in two is quite traumatic for me, it’s certainly not something I’d wish for. However if I’d been persecuted by the British establishment I might feel differently and want to escape.
Oh look, what a coincidence: “Horrific moment young bullfighter is gored through the throat, mouth and TONGUE by 1,000lb beast in his debut tournament ”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4374674/Horrific-moment-young-bullfighter-gored-face.html
How long must these barbarians be allowed to destroy bulls in this way? How come there is no protest from the left?
Dr Awesome MD
I agree. But still nothing compared to the everyday global abuse that is the food industry. You’re a vegan right?
Here’s a pic of a kid smiling for the camera with his fist in a cow’s fistula. Truly barbaric: http://pawprint.cornell.edu/sites/all/themes/pawprint_theme/media/P.7.Childtowork.0411_12_039.jpg
Do you have any real evidence that there is not any protest from the ubiquitous ‘Left’? Perhaps because there are no left-wing newspapers? Care to name one?
Scotland is in the UK, so everyone who grew up in Scotland is also British and grew up in the UK. So it seems subconsciously you already jettisoned Scotland from the UK.
Duh! by uk I meant England! Now that is a classic southerner mistake!
I guess I don’t actually like even saying the word English around here! There is definitely a pressure to feel ashamed of your Englishness, which I suppose might be what the Brexit business is all about!
Shatnersrug
“Englishness”
I’m always intrigued by what people perceive as national characteristics. What do you mean by “Englishness”?
It means having a plan for a really “Hard Brexit”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/hard-brexit-article-50-archives-britain-blow-up-channel-tunnel-nuclear-bomb-a7662711.html
I really don’t know Phil, it’s one of those funny ones. There are such regional differences it seems daft just to break it down to English Vs whatever
Shatnersrug
“it seems daft just to break it down”
Ah OK, I misunderstood your comment as if you meant it as something other than daft.
All nationalism is daft. The left confusing nationalism with anti-imperialism is particularly bizarre.
I doubt that Gibraltar has much strategic value to the UK these days but it is absolutely certain that it has zero strategic value to Spain.
What, then, could be the reason for the continued Spanish beef about Gibraltar?
If it is about smuggling, then the Spanish authorities might do better to focus on the problem of cocaine smuggling into Spain proper from South America.
If it is about territorial size, well, Spain is large enough and hardly needs to absorb tiny Gibraltar to become a bigger player (it’s a little like Syria and the occupied part of Golan Hights, isn’t it – Syria is big, Israel is tiny).
If it’s about national pride, then the Spain would do better to achieve proper closure on its not-so-far-away fascist past and perhaps take the national measures to bring down its obscenely high unemployment rates.
In other words, there are many tasks needing to be done by Spain which are of far greater importance than “recovering” Gibraltar.
As, indeed, there are many far more important issues which Craig could post about.
Shhhh! You mustn’t mention Spain’s fascist past. It’s only “Little Englanders” who are fascist, dontchaknow? And don’t mention the bullfighting either.. oops, I already did 😉
The notion that Gibraltar has no strategic value to Spain, and certainly less than it has for the UK, is surprising. Perhaps you could outline your new theory of geopolitics?
I note incidentally that I appear to have been wrong in my assertion that Poland refused to sign a non-aggression pact with the USSR. it is a small point- the Polish fascist regime was implacably opposed to the existence of the USSR and called for its reduction, through Balkanisation, to cantons and statelets
The Polish fascination with authoritarian, clerical dictatorship, which, in an era of fascism, became indistinguishable from fascism persists, as this traveller’s tale makes clear.
http://www.dreamdeferred.org.uk/2014/02/the-ugly-face-of-polish-fascism/
For ethnic minorities Poland and the Baltic states practice comprehensive policies aimed at creating second class citizens.
See this brilliant film if you ever get a chance.
El laberinto del fauno
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan%27s_Labyrinth
Bevin
“The notion that Gibraltar has no strategic value to Spain, and certainly less than it has for the UK, is surprising. Perhaps you could outline your new theory of geopolitics?”
________________________
Why are you surprised that Gibraltar is of zero strategic value tp Spain and of doubtful strategic value to the UK? That opinion does not require a theory of geopolitics, just the application of a little common sense.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3I note incidentally that I appear to have been wrong in my assertion that Poland refused to sign a non-aggression pact with the USSR. it is a small point- the Polish fascist regime was implacably opposed to the existence of the USSR and called for its reduction, through Balkanisation, to cantons and statelets”
______________________
Yes, you were wrong and I am happy to have been able to improve your knowledge of history.
It is of course not a small point, as you in fact immediately go on to demonstrate with your claim that the “Polish fascist regime was implacably opposed to the existence of the USSR and called for its reduction, through Balkanisation, to cantons and statelets”.
As I have already noted, the claim that pre-war Poland was a fascist régime is one which tends to be especially favoured by communists, Trotskyites and those suffering from similar mental illnesses. But be that as it may, interested readers would be grateful if you could source your claim about what Poland called for iro the USSR.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“The Polish fascination with authoritarian, clerical dictatorship, which, in an era of fascism, became indistinguishable from fascism”
_____________________
So a “fascination” (whatever that is supposed to mean in practice) becomes the same as fascism because it occurred in an era of (German, Italian and Spanish) fascism. That is as lunatic as saying “The British and French fascination with appeasement, which, in an era of fascism, became indistinguishable from fascism”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~” persists, as this traveller’s tale makes clear.
http://www.dreamdeferred.org.uk/2014/02/the-ugly-face-of-polish-fascism/”
__________________________
So, according to the website to which you link, Poland is still a fascist state. That is of course slanderous nonsense of the sort which could be put out by Russian disinformers. I shall leave it to the interested reader to look into that website and try to establish who the authors are and where they’re coming from (good luck with that 🙂 ).
1 Clearly Gibraltar is of strategic value. Which is why the UK took it and why the Spanish want it back. I note, without surprise, that your theory is simply that assertion in the face of evidence works. It doesn’t
2 It is widely understood that the dictator Pilsudski, who dies I believe in the mid thirties, was a fascist. His was not however the only government in Poland in the years between its being ceded independence by the Bolshevik regime and the outbreak of war in 1939, the earlier ones including liberals.
3 “the claim that pre-war Poland was a fascist régime is one which tends to be especially favoured by communists, Trotskyites and those suffering from similar mental illnesses. .” This is simply silly. Have you been drinking?
4 Among the authoritarian clerical fascist regimes in the 1930s were Franco’s in Spain, Salazar’s in Portugal, Horthy’s in Hungary and Dolfuss’s in Austria. I suspect that you would have supported all of them., if only because they massacred Communists, Trotskyists, Socialists, honest liberals and any others suffering from you are pleased to call ‘mental illnesses’ and what I would call men of principle, inclined to the cause of the poor.
5. How quickly your sort revert to Cold War habits. It really is a sign of mental illness, lamentable and pitiful, that you appear to believe not only that those who question the capitalist system are out of order but that nothing has changed since Karl Marx warned against that ‘power whose head is in Moscow and whose hand is in every cabinet in Europe.’
Marx came to know better, but then he never ceased thinking, whilst you, I suspect, never began.
Bevs
Replying to you us almost a sacred duty as it gives me the opportunity – once again – of demonstrating what liars and twisters extreme left-wingers like you are.
So let’s have a go at your latest.
“1 Clearly Gibraltar is of strategic value. Which is why the UK took it and why the Spanish want it back.”
___________________
Was of strategic value, Bevs. “Was”. Which is of course why Britain took it. If you look carefully at the previous posts, you will see that we are discussing its strategic value now. You know – “now” as in 2017. All clear?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“2 It is widely understood that the dictator Pilsudski, who dies I believe in the mid thirties, was a fascist.”
_____________________
It is true that that was the wide understanding of Communists, Trotskyites and the Soviet Union’s useful idiots and fellow-travellers in the 1930s. And in the 1940s, when it was useful as an alibi for the Soviet take-over of Poland (and other Eastern European countries). And even later, including, it seems, up to the present day. But as we all know, Communists and Trotskyites are very persistent with their propaganda.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“3 “the claim that pre-war Poland was a fascist régime is one which tends to be especially favoured by Communists, Trotskyites and those suffering from similar mental illnesses. .” This is simply silly. Have you been drinking?”
________________________
See above.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Your 4 and 5”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now you’re just ranting and launching personal insults with a view to diverting, aren’t you. A feature of your “replies” to which I have drawn readers’ attention several times in the past.
If that part of the world is of no strategic value, why would the U.S. have one of its main naval bases at Rota (just north of Cadiz)?
No one said that “that part of the world” had no strategic value, my Transatlantic Friend.
We were talking about the strategic value of Gibraltar.
The existence of a naval base at Rota (yes, yes, you’ve already told us you’ve been there, no need to tell us again 🙂 ) is precisely one of the reasons why Gibraltar now has little strategic value.
Thanks for helping, Transatlantic One.
“I doubt that Gibraltar has much strategic value to the UK these days ”
_________
Habb.
Of course it does it us situated in sight of the somewhat unstable North Africa. It is very convenient to monitor shipping traffic, coming in and out of the Straits of Gibraltar.
Gibraltar has military and intelligence facilities that could pick up vital information, on shipping traffic or movements from North Africa to Europe.
Its location is still strategic given its proximity to Africa’s Sahel belt, where Islamist extremism is on the rise, and the fact that a large amount of Middle Eastern oil and gas, that is consumed in Europe crosses the Mediterranean.
Yes, there’s a bloke in a duffel coat and armed with binoculars, notebook and pencil who sits on a stool noting down the maritime traffic going through the Straits.
Dear oh dear, do keep up, RoS!
Or better still, stick to Scotland. 🙂
Over and out, 007.
You’re the one claiming that Gibralter has very little strategic value to Britain, in your 12.52pm comment not me.
Maybe you could entertain us with more of your Mao quotes, you know the ones he didn’t say. ?
I think its about, “its ours”, no its not, “its ours”, no its not, yes it is, and not about Gibraltar.
Spain will never cease to claim the sovereignty of the Rock, for the infamous form in which it was occupied, especially the land of the isthmus and territorial waters, which were never granted in the treaty of Utrech, and by the UN resolution that supports this claim.
What holds Gibraltar in the power of the United Kingdom is not the international law or the human rights of its occupants, but the constant threat posed by the enormous disproportion of military forces between the United Kingdom and Spain. If Gibraltar had been in China or in Russia for years they would have abandoned him.
However, since the interest of the British in conserving the rock is much greater than that of the Spaniards in recovering it (we are a very unhappy people and we also have many other strands on the Mediterranean coast) I think we could easily understand each other by coming to A more just agreement, in which Gibraltar ceases to be a heavy economic burden for Spain (as it is for the English, even if it does not disturb them) and the Gibraltarians begin to behave like good neighbors, failing to deplete resources as if they had them guaranteed and abandoned that aggressiveness and contempt with which they react to any action of Spain in this respect.
For my part I must say that whenever I have been in Gibraltar I have found an enormously interesting site, a small English enclave in southern Europe, as a time capsule containing a lot of history in its tiny territory and the Gibraltarians have seemed very Friendly and polite to me, which I cannot say of many Brits and even less of Spaniards, I would not want this to change.
great comment, justanopinion, There are too many entwined interests in operating this tax haven and some of the online betting and gaming empires might even be Spanish, but the indignation by this Government is artificial and pathetic.
Spain as a member of the EU has all the same rights to comment on this article 50 union busting one way street than any other country.
Well, if we think the Treaty of Utrecht is dodgy, there might be some other rightful possessions of Spain’s with irons in the fire:
Sicily
Naples (and surrounds)
The Netherlands
Sardinia
Most of Milan
Oh, and Minorca. Ceded to GB, but seems to have gone missing since.
BTW, what of that colonial enclave, Ceuta? Spain, give it back to Morocco immediately!
I’ve not read the objections to Utrecht Treaty here but got an email today from an irregular comment writer here pointing out it includes the clause:
Hmmm. If we haven’t kept our side of the bargain, that would be an additional clause in the Spanish case, perhaps. Or would it be superseded by the historical right of the Moors and Jews to very nearly all of Spain?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Andalus
I’m pleased that Phil the ex-frog picked up points I had noticed from the Treaty of Utrecht. No-one in their right mind – British, , Spanish or Gibraltarian should give legal or moral weight to a treaty which so obviously belongs to a different world. There’s a huge amount of posturing of which the most shameless is Lord Howard’s. If I were a conspiracy theorist – which I am not – I could make a plausible case for Galieri’s invasion of the Falklands being funded by Denis Thatcher.- as an intelligent response to the failure of his wife’s Conservative Government’s failed attempt to persuade the Falkland Islanders to accept a shared sovereignty deal with Argenina. Whatever you think about the Falklands War (and I thinkthe UK was right to try to liberate the islanders from invasion), it had the unfortunate consequence of delaying still further the UK’s ability to come to terms with the loss of empire.
The Treaty of Utrecht 1713 was, inter alia, a slave-owners’ treaty. The reality now is different: Gibraltar is a territory whose identity depends on a deal between the UK and Spain.- and that remains the fact, Brexit or no Brexit.
“BTW, what of that colonial enclave, Ceuta? Spain, give it back to Morocco immediately!”
_______________________
And don’t forget the other enclave, Melilla.
Funny how all the anti-Brits are keeping quiet about the last European colonial possessions in Africa, aka Ceuta and Melilla, isn’t it (apart form a couple of Johnnies with Spanish-sounding names a couple of pages back, who claoimed that Ceita and Melilla weren’t formally colonies LOL).
I didn’t forget it, but no-one’s ever heard of it, and it spoils the soundbite… 🙂 . I did mention it in an earlier post, but, quite so.
could not agree more, trade Ceuta and Melillia back to Marocco in exchange for Gibraltar, colonialism in reverse, or would it be throwing those people living there into an economic black pit?
mind there’s always smuggling….
Hypocritical pontifications without mention of Ceuta & Mellilia. Thanks Ba’al and Habbs for raising. If Gibraltar is go back then thinking about later land grabs than Gibraltar how about the entire Mid and West coast of America. Fair enough on New England staying as it is, but the rest might be more fairly returned to Native Americans.
” Fair enough on New England staying as it is,…”
Why? Do you imagine that New England was acquired any more honourably than Ohio or Iowa? It was not.
Since you raise the question though, how would you justify the occupation of Palestine?
Give back Ceuta to Morocco? When has been Ceuta Morocco’s territory? mmmm? Never.
Well done!
We hear the same thing about the Falkland Islanders wanting to be British. If that is the case, we could pay them to re-locate to this country. It should not be use as an excuse to hold on to the Falkland Islands.
I remember just how sickened I was on the eve of the 1992 general election when Kinnock decided to support the same policy towards the Falkland Islands as Margaret Thatcher, a policy (rightly) opposed by David Owen!
Ms Cressida Dick (Jean Charles de Menezes RIP) starts her job as Chief Commissioner, Metropolitan Police next Monday.
Most nobly she is taking £40,000 less in pay than Hogan Howe received.
She is thus fully rehabilitated in the British public’s eyes.
What was there to rehabilitate, for God’s sake??
Cock- ups happen; it’s a pity but that’s life.
Sharp Ears.
Yes unquestioned obedience receives its just rewards, murder is a very profitable game these days.
Oh, so Ms Cressida Dick has committed murder, has she. Have you reported this serious matter to the police yet?
Oh how a little weasel like you would love to draw commentors in, thankfully most are too savvy to fall for it.
Stick to quoting Mao, I hear your good at that. ?
Well, I have already rescued you from your own rashness once before, RoS.
Remember the time you accused Zak Goldsmith of corruption in these pages, RoS? After I was kind enough to warn you of the possible consequences (Mr Goldsmith being notoriously litigious) you were quick to apologise and withdraw your comment.
You might not be so lucky a second time, RoS.
Better to stop showing off and stay safe, surely?
So Lord Howard has suggested that Britain could go to war with Spain over Gibralter. The thought has been laughed off in some quarters.
It was Lord Howard who led the fight against the Spanish armada of 1588. Maybe he was a distant ancestor of Michael Howard.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/gibraltar-michael-howard-got-to-war-with-spain-falklands-brexit-hilarious-never-going-to-happen-a7664536.html
As you well know, RoS, Michael Howard’s ancestry is Romanian-Jewish and so your attempt at humour falls rather flat IMHO 🙂
What do we make of this St Petersburg attack that’s allegedly left 10 people dead.
Are the Russians just cottoning, to what the West has been doing for decades?
Maybe Putin is playing them at their own game, who knows?
A event like this one, is likely to take the publics mind away from the extreme corruption, that has seen mass protests in recent weeks in Moscow.
The Russian presidential election isn’t till next yesr so it’s too early to say that’s the cause.
Whatever the true cause of the incident is, it’s likely to have a galvanising effect, on the public, that could strengthen Putin’s hand with them. It will allow him to purge Russia of dissidents, by pointing the finger of blame at them.
Stop pretending to be critical of President Putin, RoS. Your various political sympathies and attitudes have been well noted and there’s no point trying to row back, You’re** fooling no one.
___________________
** NB it’s “you’re” and not “your” as in yours of 15h48. Back to primary school with you! 🙂
One interesting thing about events in St. Petersburg today is the way the western media cover it.
With the ‘Westminster attack’ a week or so ago it was wall to wall coverage for days on end; ie, it was milked for political capital for all it was worth.
What happened in Russia today looks like a real event.
Putin recently asked the Americans to partner with Russia in the war against terrorism.
You can guess what the answer was.
In the meantime our glorious prime minister is presently brown nosing with the complete lunatics in Saudi Arabia.
You-couldn’t-make-it-up…
“What happened in Russia today looks like a real event.”
___________________
Might have guessed 🙂
If it happens in the West, it never happened at all – all actors/holograms or whatever.
If it happens in Russia, it must have happened.
Whilst we’ve all been caught up in Brexit and Gibraltar, we’ve overlooked the activities, of certain rogue states such as Israel.
Which has set up a new missile system named (rather predictably if you ask me) David’s Sling.
The oppressive apartheid military state of Israel claims it’s a defensive tactic, against the mighty military power of erm… Lebanon, yeah right.
Of course the oppressive regime needed (as usual) the backing of the USA, to impliment its yet another layer of so called defence.
We must not let Brexit take our eyes away from the activities, of rogue states such as Israel.
Israel is a oppressive apartheid military regime, well according to this report it is. I have to agree wholeheartedly with it.
“The UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is expected to publish a report equating “the Israeli Occupation” to slavery in the United States and put the financial damages suffered by Palestinians as a result of “50 years of occupation” in the billions of dollars.”
Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, is currently working with senior officials in the UN to thwart the report’s publication.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4944299,00.html
Is anyone even remotely surprised by the neferious Israeli activities?
A privacy case against Trump International Golf Clubs Scotland is under way at a small claims court.
Rohan Beyts is accusing the company of breaching data protection law by filming her without her permission or notice.
She claims she was filmed by male employees as she urinated in sand dunes while out walking at the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire a year ago.
Trump International has denied the claims.
The company was run by Donald Trump before he became the US president.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-39478417
I wonder if Nicola will be meeting
The Scottish Donald in Amerika?
Hi Michael, the following provides an overview of her plans and additional comments. “Sturgeon will also speak at the United Nations on the issue of support for women in conflict…”, so I doubt if Donald will be in attendance.
Hi JOML
would you be able to brief us on the purpose of Nicola’s visit to the U.S.A.?
Thank you in advance
Sorry, Michael, forgot the link…
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/amp.usatoday.com/story/99971100/
It appears that you spend a lot of your day typing terms like “Trump” and “Scotland” into a search engine, and then rushing over here to reproduce the results. Followed by one of your trademark asinine comments at the end, of course.
Could you please explain why you do this?
glenn_uk
I’ve been out to work and an exhausted, so no, I do not type Trump into search engines.
I see that Ceuta and Melilla are not on the UN list of Non-Self Governing Territories.
Prescott, who sat alongside Blair on the front bench for all of 10 years, now decides to stir things up for the war criminal.
Tony Blair denies John Prescott claim that Ian Paisley’s phone was tapped
Mr Blair’s office says the former deputy PM is wrong and denied security services tapped the MP’s phone while he was in office.
3 April 2017
http://news.sky.com/story/tony-blair-denies-john-prescott-claim-that-ian-paisleys-phone-was-tapped-10823665
Prescott must have had something on the Labour hierarchy.
He was in a Shadow position under Kinnock from 1983. He was a Shadow minister under Smith and continued in that job until July 1994. Two months after Smith’s sudden death in May 1994 when Becket was acting leader, he was the Shadow Employment Minister. He was made Shadow Deputy Leader by Blair who took over the party leadership in 1994 and then Deputy PM in 1997 when Blair became PM. ‘Things can only get better’.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Prescott
His HoL register.
https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-prescott/374
Writing, speaking and appearance fees and a freebee Baltic cruise with his son from Cunard last year. Plus a paid job as PS consultant to Hull University. Amazing. YCNMIU.
Under Five Eyes, it would have been NSA that eavesdropped on Paisley.
Or the ‘RAF’ might have built another watch-tower?
http://www.lamont.me.uk/capenhurst/original.html (Sellafield folly 1988-2004)
I expect the little fact that the United Kingdom is an integral part of Fives Eyes and Spain is not
will have some bearing on if the U.K. is likely to cede Gib to Spain.
SIGINT
Gibralta
I expect that from Gibralta the war on terror in
The Sahel is at the least monitored but probably very much more.
NSA could also do that from Rota.
Akrotiri does the trick, Norton.
Gibraltar: A Tax Haven Not a Nation- perhaps even The United Kingdom is a Tax Haven
Central banks ditching euro for Sterling
https://www.rt.com/business/383198-central-banks-euro-pound/
Concerns over political instability, weak growth, and the European Central Bank’s (ECB) negative interest rate policy have led central banks to cut euro exposure; the Financial Times reported, citing a survey of reserve managers at 80 central banks.
This is a interesting point, first touched upon by another commentor.
Gibraltar is considered a “non-self-governing territory” by the United Nations, and thus is subject to decolonisation, while Ceuta and Melilla are not included on the list of the United Nations non-self-governing territories.
For this reason, Spanish officials have dismissed all attempts by the Moroccan government over the past 50 years to open a dialogue on the future of the two enclaves.
As I understand it this is because Ceuta and Melilla elect members to the Spanish parliament and are treated in every way as part of Spain. Gibraltar is only part of the U.K. when it is to its own advantage.
Thank you, Why be ordinary, for that reply, I do wonder though if Morocco, took its eye off the ball over Cueta and Melilla.
In the early 1960s and throughout the 70s, what mattered most to Moroccan diplomacy, was its recovery of the Moroccan territories in the south.
These included Sidi Ifni, which was reinstated to Morocco’s sovereignty under the Agreement of January 4 1969, and the Western Sahara, recovered following the Green March on November 6 1975.
Spain took advantage of Morocco’s miscalculation of not including Ceuta and Melilla in the UN’s 4th Committee.
The Moroccan government will be watching closely, over the outcome between Spanish and British negotiations, regarding Gibraltar.
The Moroccan government may have been told to take its eye off the ball. The Moroccan monarchy has long been a U.S. ally for all sorts of matters.
And again it may not. Depends if you’re a ConspiraLoon, I guess.
That’s a little weird. A non self-governing territory entirely run by the parent power isn’t a colony, while an enclave with its own parliament surrendering limited powers only to the parent power is?
Blair was right (once, and for the purposes of comedy). Biggest mistake he ever made was devolving to a Scottish Parliament. We’ll have to give it back to the Vikings now…
http://www.parliament.gi/
Interesting that no-one has yet produced a response, coherent or otherwise to this:
“Bobm
April 2, 2017 at 19:05
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).”
Ranting responses from three regulars were removed by the moderators.
Would anyone like to respond, constructively?
Bobm
I’m sure Habb, being a most vociferious defender of Britain’s right to Gibraltar, will be more than happy to answer your posers.
That is unless he can’t answer them.
Well income tax rates are lower in Gib than in Spain but it’s not always about money. I guess they would also lose a lot of the autonomy they currently have and be absorbed into local Spanish politics.
Don’t confuse being unwelcoming to a leaking nuclear submarine to being unwelcoming to the RN generally.
The fact that Spain is an impoverished nation with an 18% unemployment rate, the second highest in Europe, might also have something to do with it.
What would the unemployment rate in a Spain without Catalonia be?
Higher, and thank you for making Kempe’s point.
This is Brilliant.
No-one is explaining why “the people” of Gib, by a massive majority, want to stay in the European Union.
Let’s hear it, please..and not why blog contributors want Gib to stay British, or why they think Gib should so wish.
Why do they wish to stay in the EU?
” No-one is explaining why “the people” of Gib, by a massive majority, want to stay in the European Union. ”
We have attempted to cover this point.
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2017/04/gibraltar-tax-haven-not-nation/comment-page-1/#comments
Whilst Gib doesn’t want to be part of Spain normalisation of relations and the opening of the border after Spain joined the EU benefitted both parties.
Bobm.
I’m afraid Bob, there has been one or two very poor attempts to clear up your queries, Habb, didn’t even bother to attemp an answer, instead opting to post a long winded comment regarding a Russian poet, that he probably loathed.
RIP the great poet Yevgeni Yevtushenko
Is it not curious that his passing this weekend has not elicited a single comment from the large number of Russia-“experts” who frequent this bog?
Nit even from that Communist literary gentleman Mr John Goss
I wonder if this is because of Yevtushenko’s disinclination to nestle comfortably up the fundament of the CPSU and its corrupt, hopeless leaders and political system?
Perish the thought! 🙂
John Did so right away.. though Not here.
‘Nit even……’ Sounds just like the French policeman in Ello! Ello! 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ3M8cj70vs
Let me suggest a pragmatic remedy.
Gibraltar (1713) wishes to remain independent of Spain, but was keen on Britain remaining in EU.
Scotland (1720) wants independence of Britain and to remain / join EU.
Solution: Scottish independence (supported by Spain) but with secret treaty for Gibraltar to then declare UDI from Britain and pledge loyalty to Scotland as a Scottish Dependant Territory. Maybe ask Jardine for support and logistics – a little rock in the Mediterranean could come in handy once an independent Scotland puts on her traditional pragmatic conservative international trade hat.
I like!
fwl?
What is the significance of this date, with regards to Scotland?
“Scotland (1720) wants independence of Britain and to remain / join EU.”
Incidently the Young Pretender (no not Habb) Bonnie Prince Charlie was born in 1720. ?
With his vast experience and knowledge – a sort of Naval Ray McGovern, if you will – one would expect “Lysias” to be a frequent contributor to American websites like “Counterpunch” or other sites like “zerohedge” or “globalresearch”?
After all, they are always looking for contributors with the sort of inside “knowledge” possessed by our Transatlantic Friend.
But, instead of that, he appears to prefer spending his free time darting in and out of this UK blog (and perhaps others), specialising in gnomic comments and dime-store Socratic questions.
A great waste of a great talent. very curious 🙂
The next Anglo Scottish war will clearly be fought over Berwick and the debateable lands?
Let’s hope post Brexit Michael Howard can still flee to his father’ s native Romania… ( that’s true i kid you not)
Via Yarl’s Wood, indeed. Like it. Other names occur at the same time. Chuka Umunna being one.
Vitement Monsieur Norton!
French Election.
Marine Le Pen: Who’s funding the Far Right.
Panorama
BBC1 Starting now.
It’s all total nonsense, as I keep trying to point out.
There is a roar coming from the streets that is being completely ignored. I will repeat this link again. Listen to it and understand history, and not what these little nonces want to brainwash you into believing…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWyzI1hEkf4
I believe a simple “vite” would be sufficient, Sharp Ears.
Looks like things are tightening up,
in Scotland
Former health secretary Alex Neil has said a separate “health tax” should be introduced in Scotland to pay for essential improvements to the NHS.
The proposal was one of the recommendations in a 10-point plan outlined by the SNP MSP.
Mr Neil said the plan for a tax specifically for the NHS was “deeply controversial but cannot be ignored”.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-39479388
Michael.
The clues in the report FORMER health secretary Neil has as much clout around Holyrood as Gordon Brown has around Westminster…zero.
Michael, surely you know that it is fatal for a political party which intends to raise taxes to say it is going to do so before an election?
As with Mrs Thatcher and VAT before the 1979 election, so surely with the Scotch National Party before the last election for Holyrood.
Ain’t that right, “Republicofscotland”? 🙂
If you’re going to wilfully get the name wrong in order to irritate then you might as well go the whole hog and call them the Scotch Nationalist Party.
RoS
it would seem the person you have dismissed is still a member of the S. N. P.
and still Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Airdrie and Shotts
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 May 2011
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Neil_(politician)
The thought does not seem to have occurred to the UK-haters on here that the good people of Gibraltar might wish to stay in the EU as part of the UK but not wish to stay in the EU as part of Spain?
I have tried to check this idea with leaders General Franco, Jose Maria Aznar and Mariano Rajoy but they are not answering: the first is unavailable, the second is still sulking and the third is too busy trying to get Spain’s 19% unemployment rate down.
We have two guests over at the moment from the UK. Both of them are in their 20s and are paramedics. Both of them fully understand that the NHS is being deliberately run-down so that it can be privatised. Both of them think that this is not good.
Both of them voted Tory at the last election.
What can you do, except get drunk…
I’m being boring, perhaps, but as Craig’s post is about Gib, I ask again
Why do “the people” of Gib, by a massive majority, want to stay in the European Union.
Let’s hear it, please..and not why blog contributors want Gib to stay British, or why they think Gib should so wish.
Why do Gib inhabitants wish to stay in the EU?
Bobm, in case you haven’t noticed, Spain is also in a state or revolution.
This makes stuff like Gibraltar totally irrelevant (for the time being).
You’re like people in the spent frames of a film.
You just don’t get it, do you.
Spain, Ireland, Greece, the revolution can’t happen quickly enough.
What’s going to happen in France will probably give you a neo-con heart attack.
Poor little dears.
Sorry to read this.
It fails to meet my point [though there are lots of things to discuss, idc].
Off to bed, now.
Sorry to hear you say that Bobm. I would love to hear any of your views on this stuff. We live in a complete lunatic asylum, and as one of the inmates you can say what you think, within boundries.
Access to the EU single market in financial services. Simples.
O.K. let’s trey and clear some of this E.U. stuff up.
Now, Scottish Gordon Brown and Scottish Tony Blair and Scottish Alistair Darling
had a long run at running
The United Kingdom.
Gordon Brown did his utmost to stop us joing the Euro.
Praise be to Gordon Brown,
this has been our saving grace.
This is why we can have Brexit and slip the shackles of E.U. Serfdom.
Not so lucky for Ireland, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, France, Portugal or Spain.
because they can’t rely on the UK to sort out its problems, Bobm, with services, water and other infrastructure needs. Gibraltar is not held up by Spanish guest workers, it gets most of its money from those offshore companies and my guess is that many of them are European, not from outside the EU.
Looking at the prospects of a hard Brexit, which btw. is not the same as the agenda that is increasingly rearing its right wing conspiracy head, i.e. walking away, the Gibraltarian’s can envisage what a hard Brexit border with Sp[ain might look like, they have experience and don’t want none of it.
They will have to make their minds up, Europe or a bust up union.
Surely the Gibraltarians would be happier completely independent of either Britain or Spain whilst remaining in the EU?
Glad I read this, the lunatics, glad to get rid of them. Gibraltar is EU from now on. Let them come in their rusty navy ships. Good to see Spain vetoing any deal with the runaway brits.
In fairness, the Republic of Ireland should demand a similar veto in respect to Northern Ireland.
In both cases the locals were in favor of remaining in the EU and the the R.of I., like Spain, will inherit the bother of a ‘hard’ land border.
The main difference is that people born in N.I.or, as the authorities in the R.of I. prefer “born on the island of Ireland”, are entitled to an Irish passport and will, therefore, retain the ability to be both UK and EU citizens. This goes well beyond the CTA between the UK and Ireland that both sides claim will be retained despite Brexit.
I can see an opportunity for an “anchor baby” start-up.