Shard

Check out the Guardian article on just give Gibraltar back! And why not!

Oink

You obviously didn't read it correctly. It wasn't part of any empirical research. It was an opinion that made use of question and theory.

dave_j

In 1982, the population of the Falklands was 1890 individuals. I remember thinking at the time that it might be an idea to offer each inhabitant half a million pounds, an offer that I suspect might have changed the attitude of many towards the Argentine. I'm sure they would have negotiated an end to the dispute on quite favourable terms. It would have been cheap given the subsequent war, continuing cost and diplomatic upset.

Today, the population of Gibraltar is about 30,000. I wonder what it would take to change the minds of the staunch Gibraltarians. Every man has his price and perhaps the Spanish might chip in, who knows?

China appears to rattle along with Hong Kong, albeit a little bumpily... One Nation, Two systems. It's not unreasonable to apply a similar concept to Gibraltar and the Falklands.

Sometimes it helps to think the unthinkable.

BristolUK

And the women?

dave_j

They become honorary men.

Shard

If the territory is ceded to Spain under some kind of transitional arrangement, then there would be money required or minds to change. As long as the residents are given special rights to remain there they should not have a problem with it. Over time their public services could be transferred to the Spanish equivalent, and of course their taxes too. I think many work in Spain anyway. The "true Brits" if they want to stick to that antiquated notion, can always move back to the mainland (as in, the 'big island' of GB)!

dave_j

As I say, think the unthinkable.
Gibraltar as an english speaking province of Spain.
Not that different from Basque speaking provinces.
No problems with borders.
Extensive servicing arrangements of HM forces to continue.
Flexible taxation arrangements to be phased out over time.
Money to be made for all.
But..
The ghosts of Churchill and all those politicians who think that lines drawn on a map mean something would turn over in their tombs and yell betrayal.
It's a measure of the fear that PMs like May have for nationalistic sentiment that rational discussion of these issues never gets debated.

BristolUK

Never mind all those complications, would they keep red phone boxes?

bats

Long live the patriarchy eh?

Oink

Was it straight or bendy bananas that the EU didn't want us to have? They have four kinds in my local supermarket, is that something to do with NAFTA?

dave_j

Apologies, my feeble attempt to bring out a smile, not so in this case.

Novocastrian

Which of the four is most postmodernist?