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    Realpolitik means we'll have to give up Gibraltar for a good Brexit deal, get used to it, we were warned before the referendum.

    The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

    Suck it up.
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    SeanT said:

    Let's just save a lot of time and hassle, and start the Great European War right now (and get Trump as our ally).

    Aux armes, Britanniques.

    So Dave was right, Brexit will lead to a war.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,004
    Mr. Eagles, I see you're adopting the tough negotiating stance that Caesar took when he was on diplomatic duties in Bithynia.
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    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,956

    Realpolitik means we'll have to give up Gibraltar for a good Brexit deal, get used to it, we were warned before the referendum.

    The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

    Suck it up.

    Simply not going to happen.

    First of all, we have no rights to give away sovereign territory against the wishes of the people.

    WTO would be better than giving away Gib.
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    Ishmael_ZIshmael_Z Posts: 8,981
    RobD said:

    tessyC said:

    A way to get around the Gibraltar issue if needs be would be to just make it a full incorporated part of the United Kingdom. Give them a Member of Parliament and keep it fully devolved. Can't be treated differently then.

    Someone else suggested this down-thread. Is there a legal basis for this argument?
    I am not sure. We "own" it, but I don't think it follows that we can incorporate it into ourselves. Say an eccentric billionaire owned the freehold of a very small Balearic island and left it to the UK in his will, we could not turn it into part of the UK.
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    MonksfieldMonksfield Posts: 2,222

    RobD said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Looks like Spain has said "I see your intelligence capability, and raise you Gibraltar"

    And only one of those is utterly outrageous, apparently!

    The EU's behaviour shows that their negotiating position is much weaker than expected. Why use these stupid games, if they had real negotiating power?

    That's the spirit! Like Nelson at Copenhagen....
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    Beverley_CBeverley_C Posts: 6,256
    SeanT said:

    SeanT said:

    I'm coming round to the Casino Royale view of Brexit. It's possible the EU is going to overplay its hand (which is fairly stupid, given that their hand is already strong), they will antagonise us too much, and we will crash out, with no deal.

    Brace position.

    After decades of being half-committed to the whole project and often being the contrary problem child, we have now kicked a hole in their budget and said "We're off". What did you expect them to do? Kiss us?
    We were the contrary problem child..... that was also the second largest contributor to EU coffers. We paid for much of their crap.

    We also opened our doors to Eastern Europe when France and Germany said Non. Etc etc etc. All this is so quickly and easily overlooked.

    "... All this is so quickly and easily overlooked. "

    Yes, it is. That is often the case in life
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,989
    Ishmael_Z said:

    RobD said:

    tessyC said:

    A way to get around the Gibraltar issue if needs be would be to just make it a full incorporated part of the United Kingdom. Give them a Member of Parliament and keep it fully devolved. Can't be treated differently then.

    Someone else suggested this down-thread. Is there a legal basis for this argument?
    I am not sure. We "own" it, but I don't think it follows that we can incorporate it into ourselves. Say an eccentric billionaire owned the freehold of a very small Balearic island and left it to the UK in his will, we could not turn it into part of the UK.
    Hm, I don't think that is quite analogous. If the government of Gibraltar asked to become a constituent part of the UK, surely that would be entirely legal. I am just not sure that means it would somehow invalidate the EU's statement on Spain and Gibraltar.
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    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549
    rcs1000 said:

    Re NATO, where is the origin of the 2% rule? I've just read the founding treaties, and it's not mentioned there. When did it come into existence?

    Some bloody summit made the number up!
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    TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    edited March 2017
    SeanT said:



    Of course if we get Diamond Hard Brexit there are advantages. We won't have to give them a fucking centime.

    Coverage on the news last night of the Malta "jolly" they were on this week showed a lavish event with high production values so the great and the good of the EU inner circle could - well - it wasn't clear what they were up to - advertising the EU I think.

    Ireland is about to move from the hand out to hand over column - I wonder how happy they will be to pony up for these excesses.
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    SimonStClareSimonStClare Posts: 7,976
    edited March 2017
    SeanT said:

    Let's just save a lot of time and hassle, and start the Great European War right now (and get Trump as our ally).

    Aux armes, Britanniques.

    Wouldn’t that mean reusing the old battlefields of Belgium…? - Oh dear etc, etc.
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,691
    There must be a deal to be done - swap Gibraltar for Ibiza.

    I suspect that Gibraltar is the Brexit dead cat that will periodically be thrown on the table to distract from the latest nonsense coming from Brussels or Westminster.
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    Mortimer said:

    Realpolitik means we'll have to give up Gibraltar for a good Brexit deal, get used to it, we were warned before the referendum.

    The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

    Suck it up.

    Simply not going to happen.

    First of all, we have no rights to give away sovereign territory against the wishes of the people.

    WTO would be better than giving away Gib.
    The former residents of Diego Garcia would disagree with you.
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    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,047
    It will be almost worth the humiliation of being seen reading the Wail if handing it over is seriously suggested. Asbestos fingers would be needed to handle the paper.
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    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,130
    With exquisite timing, Pete Tong's gone Gibraltar.

    https://twitter.com/gibraltaropress/status/847739264200724482
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    Animal_pbAnimal_pb Posts: 608

    Realpolitik means we'll have to give up Gibraltar for a good Brexit deal, get used to it, we were warned before the referendum.

    The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

    Suck it up.

    Yes, but the warnings came from people like George Osborne, who, as we all know, were hopelessly wrong about everything. Including their grasp of realpolitik.
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,989
    surbiton said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Re NATO, where is the origin of the 2% rule? I've just read the founding treaties, and it's not mentioned there. When did it come into existence?

    Some bloody summit made the number up!
    The members of NATO themselves. Shocking!
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    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,763

    SeanT said:

    Let's just save a lot of time and hassle, and start the Great European War right now (and get Trump as our ally).

    Aux armes, Britanniques.

    So Dave was right, Brexit will lead to a war.
    Daves a leaver now

    hes proud of his legacy
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    welshowlwelshowl Posts: 4,460

    Realpolitik means we'll have to give up Gibraltar for a good Brexit deal, get used to it, we were warned before the referendum.

    The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

    Suck it up.

    Not certain whether to say "no we won't " or "top trolling"!
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    PAWPAW Posts: 1,074
    Germany and England should agree to meet up in France and sort things out finally.
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    SimonStClareSimonStClare Posts: 7,976
    SeanT said:

    Mortimer said:

    Realpolitik means we'll have to give up Gibraltar for a good Brexit deal, get used to it, we were warned before the referendum.

    The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

    Suck it up.

    Simply not going to happen.

    First of all, we have no rights to give away sovereign territory against the wishes of the people.

    WTO would be better than giving away Gib.
    The UK has assured the Gibraltarians that they will always have the right of self determination. That is not going to change. So the Rock-dwellers will have to do an astonishing volte-face before Gib becomes Spanish.

    I doubt Gib would do that even if it meant losing 20% of the their GDP. And right now they are actually in the middle of a massive economic BOOM - 7.5% GDP growth.
    Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, addressed the Gibraltar Parliament shortly after Mrs May’s statement to the Commons. He said, Gibraltar will “be no victim of Brexit” and insisted that “resilient and entrepreneurial” Gibraltarians would adapt to a new reality outside the EU.

    “As far as we are concerned, this day brings us nothing to celebrate,” the Chief Minister said.
    “But it also brings us nothing to fear and everything to fight for.”
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    welshowlwelshowl Posts: 4,460

    There must be a deal to be done - swap Gibraltar for Ibiza.

    I suspect that Gibraltar is the Brexit dead cat that will periodically be thrown on the table to distract from the latest nonsense coming from Brussels or Westminster.

    We had Menorca for a while in one of the Wars of the Sucession of something somewhere in 17.... something or other.
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    TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    Realpolitik means we'll have to give up Gibraltar for a good Brexit deal, get used to it, we were warned before the referendum.

    The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

    Suck it up.

    And Shetland to Norway to get into EFTA.

    And the Isle of Wight to Luxembourg because the EU is so wonderful and we are so poor and weak and awful.


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    RogerRoger Posts: 18,894
    SeanT said:

    felix said:

    RobD said:

    Freggles said:

    So has the Gibraltar story been dismissed as Project Fear?

    Project Fume.

    The EU are really annoyed with us.

    Is there something I'm not getting? I thought the whole Gibraltar thing was all about whether or not the UK's exit deal applied to Gibraltar or not, and not whether or not the agreement could proceed?

    If so, it's a non-issue. Any sabre-rattling by Spain can be dealt with easily in one of two ways, according to the taste of the Gibraltarian people:

    1. Offer them a vote on joining the UK. If Gibraltar decides to become a constituent part of the UK rather than an overseas territory, then the exit deal automatically applies to it. And why not? France already has several remote overseas departments that count as an integral part of the country.
    2. If Gibraltar doesn't want to join the UK, then throw so much money at it that any problems caused by Spain are more than compensated for. There are only about thirty thousand people there. How expensive can it be?

    We voted to make Gibraltar's future a bilateral issue to be talked about by Spain and the UK. That is what will happen. There's a reason why Gibraltar voted to Remain.

    The government's position on Gibraltar has been very clear, it won't do anything against the wishes of the people there. I can't see that changing.

    Yep - I agree. All that is happening now is what we were told would happen if we voted to Leave.

    Correct - hence the big remain vote on the Rock. Spain will try it on but I suspect little will change there. It's actually the most godawful dump of a place to be fair - just an hour or so away are the beautiful and much cheaper jewels of Jerez and Cadiz!
    Gibraltar is weird. In some ways a dump, but if you dig a bit, the history is amazing.

    And the money flooding in is now making some parts quite glitzy - almost Monaco like.

    The REAL dump is the Spanish town on the other side, La Linea. UGH. Endless drug dealers and squalor. Algeciras is pretty similar. There are some real toilets on that coastline.
    'Almost Monaco like....'

    Keep off the expresso
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    TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    SeanT said:

    Let's just save a lot of time and hassle, and start the Great European War right now (and get Trump as our ally).

    Aux armes, Britanniques.

    So Dave was right, Brexit will lead to a war.
    Daves a leaver now

    hes proud of his legacy
    There are only 2 groups now - leavers and denialist bed wetters.

    Dave is a leaver.

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    Beverley_CBeverley_C Posts: 6,256
    SeanT said:

    It will be almost worth the humiliation of being seen reading the Wail if handing it over is seriously suggested. Asbestos fingers would be needed to handle the paper.

    But it's really not going to happen. Look at the UK political reaction already

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/31/outrage-spain-given-effective-veto-future-gibraltar-eu-plans/
    So? The EU no longer care what we think. Our papers can fulminate and fume as much as they like and will not make a jot of difference.

    It will come down to politics and money. The sad thing is that the EU never let commonsense get in the way of politics.
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    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,130
    SeanT said:

    It will be almost worth the humiliation of being seen reading the Wail if handing it over is seriously suggested. Asbestos fingers would be needed to handle the paper.

    But it's really not going to happen. Look at the UK political reaction already

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/31/outrage-spain-given-effective-veto-future-gibraltar-eu-plans/
    Theresa May is going to have an army of Brexiteers baying for her blood if she so much as agrees to pay a penny as an exit payment. She may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb...
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    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,991
    welshowl said:

    Realpolitik means we'll have to give up Gibraltar for a good Brexit deal, get used to it, we were warned before the referendum.

    The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

    Suck it up.

    Not certain whether to say "no we won't " or "top trolling"!
    The insistence that a good deal is impossible without giving up Gibraltar, would indicate medium trolling I would say - there's simply too many other options available to present it as credibly such a binary choice, and therefore angering.
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    Beverley_CBeverley_C Posts: 6,256
    PAW said:

    Germany and England should agree to meet up in France and sort things out finally.

    I think we have tried that a couple of times already...
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    MarkHopkinsMarkHopkins Posts: 5,584
    edited March 2017
    TGOHF said:

    Realpolitik means we'll have to give up Gibraltar for a good Brexit deal, get used to it, we were warned before the referendum.

    The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

    Suck it up.

    And Shetland to Norway to get into EFTA.

    And the Isle of Wight to Luxembourg because the EU is so wonderful and we are so poor and weak and awful.



    We should give Manchester to France.

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    TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    SeanT said:

    It will be almost worth the humiliation of being seen reading the Wail if handing it over is seriously suggested. Asbestos fingers would be needed to handle the paper.

    But it's really not going to happen. Look at the UK political reaction already

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/31/outrage-spain-given-effective-veto-future-gibraltar-eu-plans/
    Theresa May is going to have an army of Brexiteers baying for her blood if she so much as agrees to pay a penny as an exit payment. She may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb...
    I disagree - of all the possible compromises , a one off payment is the one that is least likely to cause ructions. The "one off" element is key mind you.
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    Beverley_CBeverley_C Posts: 6,256

    TGOHF said:

    Realpolitik means we'll have to give up Gibraltar for a good Brexit deal, get used to it, we were warned before the referendum.

    The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

    Suck it up.

    And Shetland to Norway to get into EFTA.

    And the Isle of Wight to Luxembourg because the EU is so wonderful and we are so poor and weak and awful.



    We should give Manchester to France.

    OK by me as long as we get the French climate. If we have to keep the grey, watery one then maybe not ... :)
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,989

    SeanT said:

    It will be almost worth the humiliation of being seen reading the Wail if handing it over is seriously suggested. Asbestos fingers would be needed to handle the paper.

    But it's really not going to happen. Look at the UK political reaction already

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/31/outrage-spain-given-effective-veto-future-gibraltar-eu-plans/
    Theresa May is going to have an army of Brexiteers baying for her blood if she so much as agrees to pay a penny as an exit payment. She may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb...
    I don't think so. We have to pay for our liabilities such as pensions, and I think most accept that.
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    welshowlwelshowl Posts: 4,460
    felix said:

    welshowl said:

    felix said:

    RobD said:

    Freggles said:

    So has the Gibraltar story been dismissed as Project Fear?

    Project Fume.

    The EU are really annoyed with us.

    Is there something I'm not getting? I thought the whole Gibraltar thing was all about whether or not the UK's exit deal applied to Gibraltar or not, and not whether or not the agreement could proceed?

    If so, it's a non-issue. Any sabre-rattling by Spain can be dealt with easily in one of two ways, according to the taste of the Gibraltarian people:

    1. Offer them a vote on joining the UK. If Gibraltar decides to become a constituent part of the UK rather than an overseas territory, then the exit deal automatically applies to it. And why not? France already has several remote overseas departments that count as an integral part of the country.
    2. If Gibraltar doesn't want to join the UK, then throw so much money at it that any problems caused by Spain are more than compensated for. There are only about thirty thousand people there. How expensive can it be?

    We voted to make Gibraltar's future a bilateral issue to be talked about by Spain and the UK. That is what will happen. There's a reason why Gibraltar voted to Remain.

    The government's position on Gibraltar has been very clear, it won't do anything against the wishes of the people there. I can't see that changing.

    Yep - I agree. All that is happening now is what we were told would happen if we voted to Leave.

    Correct - hence the big remain vote on the Rock. Spain will try it on but I suspect little will change there. It's actually the most godawful dump of a place to be fair - just an hour or so away are the beautiful and much cheaper jewels of Jerez and Cadiz!
    La Linea and Algeciras nearby Gibraltar are real dumps though.
    They are similar to Gibraltar except cheaper with better quality restaurants. Many local Spaniards from there would however be out of work if they could not go to their jobs in Gibraltar every day.
    Cant get scampi and chips with frozen peas washed down with a pint of London Pride though can you. ( I guess and kind of hope!)
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    Plus Gibraltar is a miserable stain in British history when three freedom fighters were executed in an extra-judicial murder by the British intelligence community.
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    david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,420
    Ishmael_Z said:

    RobD said:

    tessyC said:

    A way to get around the Gibraltar issue if needs be would be to just make it a full incorporated part of the United Kingdom. Give them a Member of Parliament and keep it fully devolved. Can't be treated differently then.

    Someone else suggested this down-thread. Is there a legal basis for this argument?
    I am not sure. We "own" it, but I don't think it follows that we can incorporate it into ourselves. Say an eccentric billionaire owned the freehold of a very small Balearic island and left it to the UK in his will, we could not turn it into part of the UK.
    Ireland and Scotland were incorporated into BG/UK. True, neither was a dependency but the principle's much the same. There's no problem with it in international law - Puerto Rico will be holding a referendum later this year on whether to adopt US statehood or whether to become independent. I'd expect that Gibraltar would hold a referendum too before any legislation was introduced.
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    welshowlwelshowl Posts: 4,460

    SeanT said:

    It will be almost worth the humiliation of being seen reading the Wail if handing it over is seriously suggested. Asbestos fingers would be needed to handle the paper.

    But it's really not going to happen. Look at the UK political reaction already

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/31/outrage-spain-given-effective-veto-future-gibraltar-eu-plans/
    Theresa May is going to have an army of Brexiteers baying for her blood if she so much as agrees to pay a penny as an exit payment. She may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb...
    No she won't. Cash is going to change hands, pensions for example, and probably quite a lot beyond that. As long as it's not too egregious we'll be happy if it's part of the prize of getting out and back properly on our own two feet and free to make democratic choices of our own.
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    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,063

    Mr. T, Hollande can say what he likes. He's keeping the chair warm for a few weeks, then he's off.

    Mr. PAW, why would the Germans approach us and not the French for a nuclear umbrella?


    You are shown 2 doors. Behind one is the French military and the other is the British military.

    Which one do you ask to help you?

    we hav elittle left but trident and two carriers with no planes and a couple of bathtubs. Could not beat a handdful of Taliban etc, I don't think I would be brimming with confidence just because UK was helping me. We do not have much of an army left , only big thing we have is Admirals and Generals. We would be sending them over in the train or by bus.
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    welshowlwelshowl Posts: 4,460
    TGOHF said:

    Realpolitik means we'll have to give up Gibraltar for a good Brexit deal, get used to it, we were warned before the referendum.

    The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

    Suck it up.

    And Shetland to Norway to get into EFTA.

    And the Isle of Wight to Luxembourg because the EU is so wonderful and we are so poor and weak and awful.


    Has Tim Farron sold his house and all its contents yet to help the EU?
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    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,063
    RobD said:

    Freggles said:

    So has the Gibraltar story been dismissed as Project Fear?

    Project Fume.

    The EU are really annoyed with us.

    Is there something I'm not getting? I thought the whole Gibraltar thing was all about whether or not the UK's exit deal applied to Gibraltar or not, and not whether or not the agreement could proceed?

    If so, it's a non-issue. Any sabre-rattling by Spain can be dealt with easily in one of two ways, according to the taste of the Gibraltarian people:

    1. Offer them a vote on joining the UK. If Gibraltar decides to become a constituent part of the UK rather than an overseas territory, then the exit deal automatically applies to it. And why not? France already has several remote overseas departments that count as an integral part of the country.
    2. If Gibraltar doesn't want to join the UK, then throw so much money at it that any problems caused by Spain are more than compensated for. There are only about thirty thousand people there. How expensive can it be?

    We voted to make Gibraltar's future a bilateral issue to be talked about by Spain and the UK. That is what will happen. There's a reason why Gibraltar voted to Remain.

    The government's position on Gibraltar has been very clear, it won't do anything against the wishes of the people there. I can't see that changing.
    unless they can benefit by selling them down the river
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    tessyCtessyC Posts: 106
    Ishmael_Z said:

    RobD said:

    tessyC said:

    A way to get around the Gibraltar issue if needs be would be to just make it a full incorporated part of the United Kingdom. Give them a Member of Parliament and keep it fully devolved. Can't be treated differently then.

    Someone else suggested this down-thread. Is there a legal basis for this argument?
    I am not sure. We "own" it, but I don't think it follows that we can incorporate it into ourselves. Say an eccentric billionaire owned the freehold of a very small Balearic island and left it to the UK in his will, we could not turn it into part of the UK.
    The French have done it with all their Colonies. They are even in the EU. Malta almost joined the UK in the same way.
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,989
    malcolmg said:

    RobD said:

    Freggles said:

    So has the Gibraltar story been dismissed as Project Fear?

    Project Fume.

    The EU are really annoyed with us.

    Is there something I'm not getting? I thought the whole Gibraltar thing was all about whether or not the UK's exit deal applied to Gibraltar or not, and not whether or not the agreement could proceed?

    If so, it's a non-issue. Any sabre-rattling by Spain can be dealt with easily in one of two ways, according to the taste of the Gibraltarian people:

    1. Offer them a vote on joining the UK. If Gibraltar decides to become a constituent part of the UK rather than an overseas territory, then the exit deal automatically applies to it. And why not? France already has several remote overseas departments that count as an integral part of the country.
    2. If Gibraltar doesn't want to join the UK, then throw so much money at it that any problems caused by Spain are more than compensated for. There are only about thirty thousand people there. How expensive can it be?

    We voted to make Gibraltar's future a bilateral issue to be talked about by Spain and the UK. That is what will happen. There's a reason why Gibraltar voted to Remain.

    The government's position on Gibraltar has been very clear, it won't do anything against the wishes of the people there. I can't see that changing.
    unless they can benefit by selling them down the river
    Maybe Labour would. I seriously doubt May would.
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    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,063

    RobD said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Looks like Spain has said "I see your intelligence capability, and raise you Gibraltar"

    And only one of those is utterly outrageous, apparently!

    The EU's behaviour shows that their negotiating position is much weaker than expected. Why use these stupid games, if they had real negotiating power?

    LOL
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    EssexitEssexit Posts: 1,956
    SeanT said:

    SeanT said:

    It will be almost worth the humiliation of being seen reading the Wail if handing it over is seriously suggested. Asbestos fingers would be needed to handle the paper.

    But it's really not going to happen. Look at the UK political reaction already

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/31/outrage-spain-given-effective-veto-future-gibraltar-eu-plans/
    So? The EU no longer care what we think. Our papers can fulminate and fume as much as they like and will not make a jot of difference.

    It will come down to politics and money. The sad thing is that the EU never let commonsense get in the way of politics.
    What I mean is British political opinion, which basically means the Tory party, will decide whether we accept the deal the EU offers. If that deal is contingent on our handing over Gibraltar, against the wishes of the Gibraltarians, then there simply won't be a deal. Hard Brexit.

    If Spain is clever they might ask for some prospect of shared sovereignty in the future.
    Let's give Spain the prospect of shared sovereignty for market access in the same way the EU gave us the prospect of CAP reform for part of our rebate.
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    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,047
    welshowl said:

    There must be a deal to be done - swap Gibraltar for Ibiza.

    I suspect that Gibraltar is the Brexit dead cat that will periodically be thrown on the table to distract from the latest nonsense coming from Brussels or Westminster.

    We had Menorca for a while in one of the Wars of the Sucession of something somewhere in 17.... something or other.
    And Corsica for a bit IIRC.
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    TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    RobD said:

    malcolmg said:

    RobD said:

    Freggles said:

    So has the Gibraltar story been dismissed as Project Fear?

    Project Fume.

    The EU are really annoyed with us.

    Is there something I'm not getting? I thought the whole Gibraltar thing was all about whether or not the UK's exit deal applied to Gibraltar or not, and not whether or not the agreement could proceed?

    We voted to make Gibraltar's future a bilateral issue to be talked about by Spain and the UK. That is what will happen. There's a reason why Gibraltar voted to Remain.

    The government's position on Gibraltar has been very clear, it won't do anything against the wishes of the people there. I can't see that changing.
    unless they can benefit by selling them down the river
    Maybe Labour would. I seriously doubt May would.
    Corbyn would put a bow on it and include shipping.

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    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,063
    RobD said:

    SeanT said:

    It will be almost worth the humiliation of being seen reading the Wail if handing it over is seriously suggested. Asbestos fingers would be needed to handle the paper.

    But it's really not going to happen. Look at the UK political reaction already

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/31/outrage-spain-given-effective-veto-future-gibraltar-eu-plans/
    Theresa May is going to have an army of Brexiteers baying for her blood if she so much as agrees to pay a penny as an exit payment. She may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb...
    I don't think so. We have to pay for our liabilities such as pensions, and I think most accept that.
    Just as you will have to do for Scotland soon as well
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,989
    malcolmg said:

    RobD said:

    SeanT said:

    It will be almost worth the humiliation of being seen reading the Wail if handing it over is seriously suggested. Asbestos fingers would be needed to handle the paper.

    But it's really not going to happen. Look at the UK political reaction already

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/31/outrage-spain-given-effective-veto-future-gibraltar-eu-plans/
    Theresa May is going to have an army of Brexiteers baying for her blood if she so much as agrees to pay a penny as an exit payment. She may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb...
    I don't think so. We have to pay for our liabilities such as pensions, and I think most accept that.
    Just as you will have to do for Scotland soon as well
    Sure, a fair share of liabilities and assets.
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    Beverley_CBeverley_C Posts: 6,256
    SeanT said:

    Gibraltar looms much larger in the British subconscious.

    Its very strategic position and naval dockyards count for a lot too. Gibraltar can close off the Mediterranean.

    But giving up a territory without the approval of those living there has always been contrary to UK policy.

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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,546
    SeanT said:

    malcolmg said:

    RobD said:

    Freggles said:

    So has the Gibraltar story been dismissed as Project Fear?

    Project Fume.

    The EU are really annoyed with us.

    Is there something I'm not getting? I thought the whole Gibraltar thing was all about whether or not the UK's exit deal applied to Gibraltar or not, and not whether or not the agreement could proceed?

    If so, it's a non-issue. Any sabre-rattling by Spain can be dealt with easily in one of two ways, according to the taste of the Gibraltarian people:

    1. Offer them a vote on joining the UK. If Gibraltar decides to become a constituent part of the UK rather than an overseas territory, then the exit deal automatically applies to it. And why not? France already has several remote overseas departments that count as an integral part of the country.
    2. If Gibraltar doesn't want to join the UK, then throw so much money at it that any problems caused by Spain are more than compensated for. There are only about thirty thousand people there. How expensive can it be?

    We voted to make Gibraltar's future a bilateral issue to be talked about by Spain and the UK. That is what will happen. There's a reason why Gibraltar voted to Remain.

    The government's position on Gibraltar has been very clear, it won't do anything against the wishes of the people there. I can't see that changing.
    unless they can benefit by selling them down the river
    You seem to forget we went to war with Argentina over a bunch of islands in the Antarctic that no one had previously heard of.

    Gibraltar looms much larger in the British subconscious.
    I consider any moves by the EU to try and detach British sovereign territory from the UK - as a price of Brexit - a hostile act.

    If the EU pursues this, it might want to consider that the UK could also pursue alternatives to supporting the integrity of the EU in future too, including encouraging other non-Eurozone states to Leave and form a looser European free-trading group with the UK as well.

    Something Jean-Claude would understand.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,004
    Mr. Owl, is that a NTNON Points of View sketch reference?
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    MonksfieldMonksfield Posts: 2,222
    SeanT said:

    malcolmg said:

    RobD said:

    Freggles said:

    So has the Gibraltar story been dismissed as Project Fear?

    Project Fume.

    The EU are really annoyed with us.

    Is there something I'm not getting? I thought the whole Gibraltar thing was all about whether or not the UK's exit deal applied to Gibraltar or not, and not whether or not the agreement could proceed?

    If so, it's a non-issue. Any sabre-rattling by Spain can be dealt with easily in one of two ways, according to the taste of the Gibraltarian people:

    1. Offer them a vote on joining the UK. If Gibraltar decides to become a constituent part of the UK rather than an overseas territory, then the exit deal automatically applies to it. And why not? France already has several remote overseas departments that count as an integral part of the country.
    2. If Gibraltar doesn't want to join the UK, then throw so much money at it that any problems caused by Spain are more than compensated for. There are only about thirty thousand people there. How expensive can it be?

    We voted to make Gibraltar's future a bilateral issue to be talked about by Spain and the UK. That is what will happen. There's a reason why Gibraltar voted to Remain.

    The government's position on Gibraltar has been very clear, it won't do anything against the wishes of the people there. I can't see that changing.
    unless they can benefit by selling them down the river
    You seem to forget we went to war with Argentina over a bunch of islands in the Antarctic that no one had previously heard of.

    Gibraltar looms much larger in the British subconscious.
    That was about more than the Falklands mind, possible oil finds, Antarctica etc. But on the Falklands I agree, if the residents wanted it we should incorporate them. Like France with Reunion.
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,546
    SeanT said:

    SeanT said:

    It will be almost worth the humiliation of being seen reading the Wail if handing it over is seriously suggested. Asbestos fingers would be needed to handle the paper.

    But it's really not going to happen. Look at the UK political reaction already

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/31/outrage-spain-given-effective-veto-future-gibraltar-eu-plans/
    Theresa May is going to have an army of Brexiteers baying for her blood if she so much as agrees to pay a penny as an exit payment. She may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb...
    I think the Tory party entirely accepts we will have to pay money. Gibraltar is totally different.
    I would sell the shirt on my back before I sold out Gibraltar.
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    welshowlwelshowl Posts: 4,460
    SeanT said:

    RobD said:

    malcolmg said:

    RobD said:

    Freggles said:

    So has the Gibraltar story been dismissed as Project Fear?

    Project Fume.

    The EU are really annoyed with us.

    Is there something I'm not getting? I thought the whole Gibraltar thing was all about whether or not the UK's exit deal applied to Gibraltar or not, and not whether or not the agreement could proceed?

    If so, it's a non-issue. Any sabre-rattling by Spain can be dealt with easily in one of two ways, according to the taste of the Gibraltarian people:

    1. Offer them a vote on joining the UK. If Gibraltar decides to become a constituent part of the UK rather than an overseas territory, then the exit deal automatically applies to it. And why not? France already has several remote overseas departments that count as an integral part of the country.
    2. If Gibraltar doesn't want to join the UK, then throw so much money at it that any problems caused by Spain are more than compensated for. There are only about thirty thousand people there. How expensive can it be?

    We voted to make Gibraltar's future a bilateral issue to be talked about by Spain and the UK. That is what will happen. There's a reason why Gibraltar voted to Remain.

    The government's position on Gibraltar has been very clear, it won't do anything against the wishes of the people there. I can't see that changing.
    unless they can benefit by selling them down the river
    Maybe Labour would. I seriously doubt May would.
    Corbyn would.


    I can't see any other political leader agreeing to it, not even the Lib Dems, without the express agreement of the Gibraltarians in a referendum. Which is, of course, highly unlikely. We are committed to their self-determination.
    I fear Mr Farron would give up Westmorland never mind Gibraltar if he thought he could stop Brexit that way.
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    SimonStClareSimonStClare Posts: 7,976
    edited March 2017
    TGOHF said:

    RobD said:

    malcolmg said:

    RobD said:

    Freggles said:

    So has the Gibraltar story been dismissed as Project Fear?

    Project Fume.

    The EU are really annoyed with us.

    Is there something I'm not getting? I thought the whole Gibraltar thing was all about whether or not the UK's exit deal applied to Gibraltar or not, and not whether or not the agreement could proceed?

    We voted to make Gibraltar's future a bilateral issue to be talked about by Spain and the UK. That is what will happen. There's a reason why Gibraltar voted to Remain.

    The government's position on Gibraltar has been very clear, it won't do anything against the wishes of the people there. I can't see that changing.
    unless they can benefit by selling them down the river
    Maybe Labour would. I seriously doubt May would.
    Corbyn would put a bow on it and include shipping.

    Joking aside, I don’t think Jeremy Corbyn has ever expressed an opinion on Gibraltar. No doubt he'll be asked for one soon enough.
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    welshowlwelshowl Posts: 4,460

    Mr. Owl, is that a NTNON Points of View sketch reference?

    Showing my age.
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    chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341

    Ishmael_Z said:

    RobD said:

    tessyC said:

    A way to get around the Gibraltar issue if needs be would be to just make it a full incorporated part of the United Kingdom. Give them a Member of Parliament and keep it fully devolved. Can't be treated differently then.

    Someone else suggested this down-thread. Is there a legal basis for this argument?
    I am not sure. We "own" it, but I don't think it follows that we can incorporate it into ourselves. Say an eccentric billionaire owned the freehold of a very small Balearic island and left it to the UK in his will, we could not turn it into part of the UK.
    Ireland and Scotland were incorporated into BG/UK. True, neither was a dependency but the principle's much the same. There's no problem with it in international law - Puerto Rico will be holding a referendum later this year on whether to adopt US statehood or whether to become independent. I'd expect that Gibraltar would hold a referendum too before any legislation was introduced.
    So, instead of the house crumbling we're building an extension?
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,989
    SeanT said:

    welshowl said:

    There must be a deal to be done - swap Gibraltar for Ibiza.

    I suspect that Gibraltar is the Brexit dead cat that will periodically be thrown on the table to distract from the latest nonsense coming from Brussels or Westminster.

    We had Menorca for a while in one of the Wars of the Sucession of something somewhere in 17.... something or other.
    And Corsica for a bit IIRC.
    And Heligoland! Everyone forgets Heligoland. Poor old Heligoland, so often forgotten.
    On this:

    On 18 April 1947, the Royal Navy detonated 6,700 tonnes of explosives ("Big Bang" or "British Bang"), creating one of the biggest single non-nuclear detonations in history.[32] Though the attack was aimed at the fortifications, the island's total destruction would have been accepted.

    Hah!
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    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,130
    As this clause is generally being seen as a diplomatic coup for Spain, is it just possible that they've already given assurances behind the scenes that they will not do anything to make waves over Scotland?
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,989

    As this clause is generally being seen as a diplomatic coup for Spain, is it just possible that they've already given assurances behind the scenes that they will not do anything to make waves over Scotland?

    "Generally being seen as"?
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    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,137
    SeanT said:

    Ishmael_Z said:

    RobD said:

    tessyC said:

    A way to get around the Gibraltar issue if needs be would be to just make it a full incorporated part of the United Kingdom. Give them a Member of Parliament and keep it fully devolved. Can't be treated differently then.

    Someone else suggested this down-thread. Is there a legal basis for this argument?
    I am not sure. We "own" it, but I don't think it follows that we can incorporate it into ourselves. Say an eccentric billionaire owned the freehold of a very small Balearic island and left it to the UK in his will, we could not turn it into part of the UK.
    Ireland and Scotland were incorporated into BG/UK. True, neither was a dependency but the principle's much the same. There's no problem with it in international law - Puerto Rico will be holding a referendum later this year on whether to adopt US statehood or whether to become independent. I'd expect that Gibraltar would hold a referendum too before any legislation was introduced.
    I'm not sure the Treaty of Utrecht allows us to incorporate it into the UK?

    FWIW I think we should, and do the same with all the other Crown Colonies and Dependencies, including the Falklands. And maybe Australia.
    Having HM the Q as US head of state will save Americans agonsing over defenestrating President Trump....
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    chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341
    TGOHF said:

    SeanT said:



    Of course if we get Diamond Hard Brexit there are advantages. We won't have to give them a fucking centime.

    Coverage on the news last night of the Malta "jolly" they were on this week showed a lavish event with high production values so the great and the good of the EU inner circle could - well - it wasn't clear what they were up to - advertising the EU I think.

    Ireland is about to move from the hand out to hand over column - I wonder how happy they will be to pony up for these excesses.
    The Germans, Dutch and the non EZ Swedes and Danes all lose their Thatcher Rebate as well.
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,546
    SeanT said:

    SeanT said:

    It will be almost worth the humiliation of being seen reading the Wail if handing it over is seriously suggested. Asbestos fingers would be needed to handle the paper.

    But it's really not going to happen. Look at the UK political reaction already

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/31/outrage-spain-given-effective-veto-future-gibraltar-eu-plans/
    So? The EU no longer care what we think. Our papers can fulminate and fume as much as they like and will not make a jot of difference.

    It will come down to politics and money. The sad thing is that the EU never let commonsense get in the way of politics.
    What I mean is British political opinion, which basically means the Tory party, will decide whether we accept the deal the EU offers. If that deal is contingent on our handing over Gibraltar, against the wishes of the Gibraltarians, then there simply won't be a deal. Hard Brexit.

    If Spain is clever they might ask for some prospect of shared sovereignty in the future.
    They have. Many times.

    It's worth pointing out that Spain have been playing up over Gibraltar *for years*. This waaay predates Cameron's Bloomberg speech in 2013, when there wasn't a hint of an iota that the UK might ever even consider Leaving the EU.

    Spain's actions have included:

    > Closing the border, routinely, to apply political pressure to the UK and Gibraltar
    > Illegal fishing within Gibraltarian territorial waters
    > Illegal salvage operations within Gibraltarian territorial waters
    > Ramming UK police boats
    > Aggressively challenging Royal Navy patrol boats
    > Deliberately processing customs checks extremely slowly on the border, to piss off Gibraltarian residents

    All because the British citizens of Gibraltar have consistently rejected any overtures by Spain for joint sovereignty by overwhelming margins in democratic votes.

    And.. they are hypocrites. The legal ceding of Gibraltar to the UK (before the UK even came into existence) is purported to be an outrage whilst they maintain their own colonies on the mainland of Morroco, Ceuta and Melilla, and defend them vigorously.

    They are just trying it on. Because the bastards sniff an opportunity.

    Not only should we reject Spain's claims outright, we should make clear we will never, ever visit the subject again unless the Gibraltarians expressly call for it in a democratic vote.
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    welshowlwelshowl Posts: 4,460

    As this clause is generally being seen as a diplomatic coup for Spain, is it just possible that they've already given assurances behind the scenes that they will not do anything to make waves over Scotland?

    By whom? Generally speaking of course.
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    Beverley_CBeverley_C Posts: 6,256
    Essexit said:

    Let's give Spain the prospect of shared sovereignty for market access in the same way the EU gave us the prospect of CAP reform for part of our rebate.

    Let us stop bartering people for cash.
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    FF43FF43 Posts: 15,779
    The idea that Britain, France, Germany etc will delay the Brexit deal for a nano-second over Gibraltar is fanciful. As long as the Union flag continues to fly over the Rock, they don't care. Spain will probably get some kind of oversight council, a bit like Ireland in the Good Friday Agreement and Gibraltar will have to deal with Spain direct. I can't imagine Britain would want to complicate an already fraught Brexit negotiation with a new constitutional arrangement for Gibraltar (with implications also for Scotland "Now's not the time").
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    Beverley_CBeverley_C Posts: 6,256
    edited March 2017
    Well, that was interesting
    PB.COM said:


    You have posted 5 times within 60 seconds. A spam block is now in effect on your account. You must wait at least 120 seconds before attempting to post again.

    I thought I had been banned :D
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,989
    edited March 2017
    I note no one has complained about the EU's position that no deal can be signed on citizen rights until the whole deal is signed.
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    FernandoFernando Posts: 145
    Has Spain much of a claim? It has been British for over three hundred years. Before that Spain had it for around two hundred years since the conquest of the peninsula by Aragon and Castile. Before then, for around seven or eight hundred years it was Moorish. Perhaps Morocco has the best entitlement. The argument that it is on the European side of the straits hardly washes, as Spain has territories (eg Cueta) on the African side.
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    Beverley_CBeverley_C Posts: 6,256
    Off to make dinner... a very British (but homemade) battered haddock, chips and mushy peas :)
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    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,291

    Plus Gibraltar is a miserable stain in British history when three freedom fighters were executed in an extra-judicial murder by the British intelligence community.

    This party political broadcast was brought to you by the Jeremy Corbyn led Labour Party
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,546

    Essexit said:

    Let's give Spain the prospect of shared sovereignty for market access in the same way the EU gave us the prospect of CAP reform for part of our rebate.

    Let us stop bartering people for cash.
    It is nice to agree wholeheartedly with you for a change.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,004
    Mr. D, it's like nasty Tory cuts before the 2010 election, unlike the nice Labour cuts that would've happened. The evil nasty UK position on wanting to sort out citizen rights [but being rebuffed] is entirely different to the lovely, progressive, EU position on not bothering much.

    Mr. Fernando, quite. The Spanish are just being silly buggers.
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    Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Given that any complex deal requires unanimity anyway, what difference does the EU saying that a deal only applies to Gibraltar if Spain agrees anyway? That was always the case. Spain haven't been given any new veto or anything else, it is just a statement of the obvious that given unanimity is required that includes getting Spain to agree.

    The idea that's good news for the Scots is like saying a heatwave warning is good news for snowmen.
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,989
    Fernando said:

    Has Spain much of a claim? It has been British for over three hundred years. Before that Spain had it for around two hundred years since the conquest of the peninsula by Aragon and Castile. Before then, for around seven or eight hundred years it was Moorish. Perhaps Morocco has the best entitlement. The argument that it is on the European side of the straits hardly washes, as Spain has territories (eg Cueta) on the African side.

    Spain has no legal claim.
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    FF43FF43 Posts: 15,779
    SeanT said:



    What I mean is British political opinion, which basically means the Tory party, will decide whether we accept the deal the EU offers. If that deal is contingent on our handing over Gibraltar, against the wishes of the Gibraltarians, then there simply won't be a deal. Hard Brexit.

    If Spain is clever they might ask for some prospect of shared sovereignty in the future.

    Who said anything about handing over Gibraltar?
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,546

    Off to make dinner... a very British (but homemade) battered haddock, chips and mushy peas :)

    Don't go. I don't mean for dinner; don't leave us.

    Stay.
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    kjhkjh Posts: 10,670
    Does anyone know Plato's twitter a/c? I would like to follow what is going on in the Trump followers world. Thanks.
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    TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    Perhaps Spain can hand over Ceuta and Melilla back to Morocco at the same time ?

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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,787

    SeanT said:

    It will be almost worth the humiliation of being seen reading the Wail if handing it over is seriously suggested. Asbestos fingers would be needed to handle the paper.

    But it's really not going to happen. Look at the UK political reaction already

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/31/outrage-spain-given-effective-veto-future-gibraltar-eu-plans/
    Theresa May is going to have an army of Brexiteers baying for her blood if she so much as agrees to pay a penny as an exit payment. She may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb...
    It's Remoaners who seem keen to welch on agreements and responsibilities....
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    justin124justin124 Posts: 11,527

    Animal_pb said:

    Realistically, when is the last point the Labour Party could get rid of Corbyn and still have time to select a replacement before the 2020 GE? Does anybody have definitive view on this?

    In theory we could have aleadership election summer 2019 with the new leader announced at autumn conference. 7 months before the GE wouldn't give them any chance to establish themselves, so likely to be too late to turn things around.

    I would say that conference 2018 is the last sensible time to get a new leader. In a year and a half the public will get to know them and be able to make up their minds if he/she is a PM in waiting.
    A contrary view would be that a new leader elected in 2019 might still have a honeymoon bonus.
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    So because of Brexit we could lose both Scotland and Gibraltar.

    It is clear all Brexiteers need to be investigated by MI5 to make sure they aren't working for Russia or France.

    Intern all Brexiteers until we can find out where their true loyalties lie.
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    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,291
    kjh said:

    Does anyone know Plato's twitter a/c? I would like to follow what is going on in the Trump followers world. Thanks.

    @PlatoSays I believe.
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,989

    So because of Brexit we could lose both Scotland and Gibraltar.

    It is clear all Brexiteers need to be investigated by MI5 to make sure they aren't working for Russia or France.

    Intern all Brexiteers until we can find out where their true loyalties lie.

    And the Falklands too.. http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/785860/Falkland-Islands-threat-Argentina-EU-Brexit-bid

    :p
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    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,991
    FF43 said:

    SeanT said:



    What I mean is British political opinion, which basically means the Tory party, will decide whether we accept the deal the EU offers. If that deal is contingent on our handing over Gibraltar, against the wishes of the Gibraltarians, then there simply won't be a deal. Hard Brexit.

    If Spain is clever they might ask for some prospect of shared sovereignty in the future.

    Who said anything about handing over Gibraltar?
    TSE (or is that George Osborne?)
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    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,063

    Given that any complex deal requires unanimity anyway, what difference does the EU saying that a deal only applies to Gibraltar if Spain agrees anyway? That was always the case. Spain haven't been given any new veto or anything else, it is just a statement of the obvious that given unanimity is required that includes getting Spain to agree.

    The idea that's good news for the Scots is like saying a heatwave warning is good news for snowmen.

    Certainly caused plenty of frothing at the mouth on here. The yoons are baying at the moon, mobilising Dad's Army and threatening Johnny foreigner big trouble. Oh how we laugh.
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    kjhkjh Posts: 10,670

    kjh said:

    Does anyone know Plato's twitter a/c? I would like to follow what is going on in the Trump followers world. Thanks.

    @PlatoSays I believe.
    Cheers.
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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,787
    FF43 said:

    SeanT said:



    What I mean is British political opinion, which basically means the Tory party, will decide whether we accept the deal the EU offers. If that deal is contingent on our handing over Gibraltar, against the wishes of the Gibraltarians, then there simply won't be a deal. Hard Brexit.

    If Spain is clever they might ask for some prospect of shared sovereignty in the future.

    Who said anything about handing over Gibraltar?
    I think TSE has given up pushing 'Osborne for PM' so he's trying something equally as ludicrous....
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    kle4kle4 Posts: 91,991
    Fernando said:

    Has Spain much of a claim?

    It doesn't have a claim at all, it has a desire. Argentina has a greater claim to the Falklands.
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    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,063

    SeanT said:

    It will be almost worth the humiliation of being seen reading the Wail if handing it over is seriously suggested. Asbestos fingers would be needed to handle the paper.

    But it's really not going to happen. Look at the UK political reaction already

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/31/outrage-spain-given-effective-veto-future-gibraltar-eu-plans/
    Theresa May is going to have an army of Brexiteers baying for her blood if she so much as agrees to pay a penny as an exit payment. She may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb...
    It's Remoaners who seem keen to welch on agreements and responsibilities....
    HA HA , lady Haw Haw has been wheeled in to the fray, waving her union jack and brandishing her signed St Theresa letter.
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    FF43FF43 Posts: 15,779



    Spain's actions have included:

    > Closing the border, routinely, to apply political pressure to the UK and Gibraltar
    > Illegal fishing within Gibraltarian territorial waters
    > Illegal salvage operations within Gibraltarian territorial waters
    > Ramming UK police boats
    > Aggressively challenging Royal Navy patrol boats
    > Deliberately processing customs checks extremely slowly on the border, to piss off Gibraltarian residents

    All because the British citizens of Gibraltar have consistently rejected any overtures by Spain for joint sovereignty by overwhelming margins in democratic votes.

    And.. they are hypocrites. The legal ceding of Gibraltar to the UK (before the UK even came into existence) is purported to be an outrage whilst they maintain their own colonies on the mainland of Morroco, Ceuta and Melilla, and defend them vigorously.

    They are just trying it on. Because the bastards sniff an opportunity.

    Not only should we reject Spain's claims outright, we should make clear we will never, ever visit the subject again unless the Gibraltarians expressly call for it in a democratic vote.

    That's Gibraltar's problem as far as I am concerned. If they want to be a mouse lying down next to an elephant they need to find a way of getting on with the elephant. Our only responsibility is to prevent any takeover by force. AFAIK there's no current risk of that.

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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,787
    kjh said:

    Does anyone know Plato's twitter a/c? I would like to follow what is going on in the Trump followers world. Thanks.


    https://twitter.com/PlatoSays
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    justin124justin124 Posts: 11,527
    MTimT said:

    Pulpstar said:

    FPT: Mr. Pulpstar, your jest does raise an interesting question. Obviously we have the enormous issue of the EU, but will we otherwise see a swing back to the governing party? Likewise, has the stigma of voting Conservative disappeared, which might reduce/abolish the shy Conservative factor?

    There is almost always(*) a 'swingback' to the governing party from an aggregate of by-elections or local results

    (*) Checked back to 1966-70 government thus far.

    Kind of why Copeland was important. It means Labour could lose more than Copeland at the GE. Alot more.
    Or it means we are in a suis generis situation and the old observations won't hold. Remember, past performance is no guarantee of future performance.

    Generating theories based on past data is no more than storytelling. For each set of data, multiple stories, each internally consistent, can be told. Swingback is disprovable, with the first instance it does not hold good. But each time swing back happens, all it does in confirm our bias for this story - it proves nothing.
    I am unaware of any evidence of 'swingback' which has not been preceded by a 'swingaway'.
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    MonksfieldMonksfield Posts: 2,222

    So because of Brexit we could lose both Scotland and Gibraltar.

    It is clear all Brexiteers need to be investigated by MI5 to make sure they aren't working for Russia or France.

    Intern all Brexiteers until we can find out where their true loyalties lie.

    Don't forget Norn Iron
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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,787
    malcolmg said:

    SeanT said:

    It will be almost worth the humiliation of being seen reading the Wail if handing it over is seriously suggested. Asbestos fingers would be needed to handle the paper.

    But it's really not going to happen. Look at the UK political reaction already

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/31/outrage-spain-given-effective-veto-future-gibraltar-eu-plans/
    Theresa May is going to have an army of Brexiteers baying for her blood if she so much as agrees to pay a penny as an exit payment. She may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb...
    It's Remoaners who seem keen to welch on agreements and responsibilities....
    HA HA , lady Haw Haw has been wheeled in to the fray, waving her union jack and brandishing her signed St Theresa letter.
    these findings raise severe doubts about the wisdom of the Scottish government’s decision to turn a disagreement about what Brexit should mean into the crux of an argument as to why Scotland should have a second opportunity to back leaving the UK.

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/30/scots-back-sturgeon-brexit-polls
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    TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    So because of Brexit we could lose both Scotland and Gibraltar.

    Islington has already left Britannia and is part of greater Moscow.
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    surbitonsurbiton Posts: 13,549
    malcolmg said:

    SeanT said:

    It will be almost worth the humiliation of being seen reading the Wail if handing it over is seriously suggested. Asbestos fingers would be needed to handle the paper.

    But it's really not going to happen. Look at the UK political reaction already

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/31/outrage-spain-given-effective-veto-future-gibraltar-eu-plans/
    Theresa May is going to have an army of Brexiteers baying for her blood if she so much as agrees to pay a penny as an exit payment. She may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb...
    It's Remoaners who seem keen to welch on agreements and responsibilities....
    HA HA , lady Haw Haw has been wheeled in to the fray, waving her union jack and brandishing her signed St Theresa letter.
    .........from the Channel Islands.
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    calumcalum Posts: 3,046
    malcolmg said:

    Given that any complex deal requires unanimity anyway, what difference does the EU saying that a deal only applies to Gibraltar if Spain agrees anyway? That was always the case. Spain haven't been given any new veto or anything else, it is just a statement of the obvious that given unanimity is required that includes getting Spain to agree.

    The idea that's good news for the Scots is like saying a heatwave warning is good news for snowmen.

    Certainly caused plenty of frothing at the mouth on here. The yoons are baying at the moon, mobilising Dad's Army and threatening Johnny foreigner big trouble. Oh how we laugh.
    I think folks need to better pace their froth for health reasons !! - This early days
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    AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    "A seismic shift is needed for Corbyn to win in 2020. But it could happen

    So what if the Labour leader isn’t a whizz with a teleprompter? He has great policies, his integrity is rock solid – and with help, he could still sweep to power"

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/31/jeremy-corbyn-labour-party-general-election-2020
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