Gordon Barlow

As a British Overseas Territory, Gibraltar is not subject to the laws of the UK, and has its own FCO-approved constitution, as all the other BOTs have.

Fredbargate

Gordon you are replying to someone who hates Gibraltar for reason unknown and will not listen to reason or understand/accept truth.

Do not waste your time

EMR

Fred you really should take more water with it, hate is a stupid response.
I think it laughable that you appear not to realise we live in the 21st century and not the 19th.
That you have chosen to live on what at times must feel like the largest open prison in Europe and are obviously suffering from some forrm of claustrophobia does make me feel sorry for you at times.
I am an advocate of full independence for Gib, and all the old colonies. Gibraltar ends its British overseas territory status and sinks or swims on its own.
IF the real Gibraltarians do not want that the UK should take over direct rule ,change its status to that if a county council.
Have its own MP in the UK parliament, be subject to all UK laws and taxes etc.
The neighbours would no longer be dealing with a government it does not take seriously but with the UK government.

Tell me what us hatefull about that.

You get either full independence or you really can call yourselves British and be part of the UK.

jimenato

Why?

Dick Dasterdly

Because regardless of anyone else's P.O.V. it would make EMR very happy.

Surely that is reason enough.

Fredbargate

The relationship between Britain and it's Overseas Territories is controlled by their Constitutions which are formulated and agreed with Britain.

The UK Government your government who you voted for therefore does not agree with your ideas.

Therefore instead of posting ad nauseam, repeatedly boring the good people of this forum I suggest you book an interview with your MP and discuss your ideas at that level.

EMR

I suggest that you also look up the definition of forum,.

Ithink that you will find that it does not say " only Freds opinions to be posted "

The UK does not have a written constitution.

Gordon Barlow

It's a largely unappreciated fact that the Overseas Territories are mostly of genuine value to the UK. Cayman, for instance, is believed to be the regional HQ of MI6: Britain's eyes and ears in this part of the world. I imagine Gibraltar serves much the same purpose. We don't draw on the British Public Purse, and I very much doubt that Gibraltar does.

Our local politicians are way less sophisticated than Gib's, and are always bitching about independence. Yet Cayman's strategic location would never allow it to become genuinely independent. If we were ever to actually terminate the UK connection, the CIA would have its feet up on the Governor's desk before the Union Jack hit the ground. In Gib's case it would be the Guardia Civil and its feet.

<<<snip>>>

Fredbargate

Gibraltar to vote in Britain’s in/out referendum

Gibraltarians will be able to vote in Britain’s referendum on whether to sever ties with the European Union.

The Bill will make clear that the franchise will be based on that for a general election, plus members of the House of Lords and Commonwealth citizens in Gibraltar.

Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Gordon Barlow

Oops! Sorry, Monitor. Here below is what I wanted to invite BE readers of this thread to read... Not everybody in the world is interested in how Britain governs its colonies today, but for those who are, this extract gives a taste. It was addressed to my local fellow-residents.

It’s amazing how often Caymanians have to be reminded that we are a British colony. The CNS website is packed with protests against Britain’s insistence on a balanced government budget. “Imperialism!” “Slavery!” “Exploitation!”

In fact, our colonial status is secured by a contract freely entered into by our Caymanian legislators. All the terms are clear and out in the open. There are no hidden protocols. What you see is what you get. Britain is in charge of Cayman’s finances – and indeed everything else. It delegates some areas of responsibility to the local MLAs, but all legislation still has to be approved by our Governor before it comes into force. He is not the token figurehead some Caymanians think he is. Sure, he must do what he’s told by the FCO; our MLAs have no authority over him.

This reality is apparent in the current squabble over our government’s 2011 Budget. The FCO is withholding its consent until it sees evidence that government’s core operating expenditure will be less than its core operating income. For years, the British government has privately warned successive Cayman Islands Cabinets against over-spending. The warnings had no effect. It was like telling little boys that eating too much cake will make them sick. Well, our little boys did eat too much cake, and now they’re sick. At least, they’re sick with anger because Mummy has taken the cake away.

Most communities of our size in the world are constitutionally required to balance their budgets. There’s nothing unique about Cayman in that regard. Our figures are a bit bigger than the typical small community, but we’re not unique in that, either. There are plenty of communities of 50,000 people in the UK and US that are as rich as we are, per capita. Unfortunately, we combine high Public Revenue and Expenditure with a high level of governmental incompetence. Like the little boys and the cake, our MLAs’ eyes were bigger than their stomachs.

Fredbargate

Grassroots party transforms La Linea’s political landscape

La Linea 100x100, the fledgling grassroots party that delivered an electoral shock on Sunday to become La Linea’s second political force, believes in “good neighbourly relations” with Gibraltar and will seek to strengthen cross-border ties in commerce, culture and tourism.

The party, whose leader Juan Franco Rodríguez is now a front runner to replace PSOE’s Gemma Araujo as mayor of La Linea, swept in from nowhere to transform the political landscape in the Spanish border city.

Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Dick Dasterdly

Looks promising, though actions speak louder than words.

No doubt we shall soon find out, but I'm not holding my breath.

Fredbargate

Governor resigns

Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton will relinquish the post of Governor and Commander in Chief at the end of September this year, citing “purely personal and professional” reasons.

The move is unprecedented in Gibraltar’s modern history and comes less than two years after Sir James took office in December 2013 for what should have been a three-year term.

The search for his successor is already under way.

Sir James, who has held top military and civilian posts during a long and distinguished career, confessed that the role of Governor had been “…more representational and ceremonial than I had expected.”

Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Fredbargate

Picardo briefs EU committee on Gib tax facts

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo defended the Rock in the face of ‘hostile but irrelevant’ questioning yesterday from a Spanish member of the EU’s newly set-up special committee looking into unfair tax practices in Europe.

Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Maybe1day

Italy has 1700 taxes, unfair ? Not a bit of it there's a tax for everything and everyone!