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Invoking Falklands and common cause with Argentina, ‘Rajoy has burnt his boats with PM Cameron’

Thursday, August 15th 2013 - 15:23 UTC
Full article 47 comments

Roger Boyes, Diplomatic Editor of The Times, has criticised the recent tactics by Spain and urges the conservative government to return to a more positive approach to the Gibraltar question. Likewise by invoking the Falklands and making common anti-British cause with Argentina the Spanish PM “has burnt his boats with British PM David Cameron”. Read full article

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  • Porto Margaret

    “The rational Spanish strategy, he says, would be to set about persuading the Gibraltans that Spanish rather than British citizenship would bring real advantages to their children.”

    Yes Roger, please tell us one advantage the children can expect ?

    Oh, bear in mind that the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is on record as saying that the current inhabitants of the 'Rock' are not true Gibraltans.

    Aug 15th, 2013 - 05:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Brasileiro

    Argentina is independent, but without Brasil, she/it is nothing.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpSXYSREGe0

    Aug 15th, 2013 - 06:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • FI_Frost

    @2 Briaslerio

    Thanks for sharing. Top parade. Good so see you chaps are breathing new life into this sort of thing: I do miss the old Soviet May Day Parades complete with their goose stepping, rockets, tanks, guns and puffy out chests . Good show.

    Alas as you say Argentina has long been surpassed by the mighty Brazil! Perhaps you should chip in and offer her a job as your shoe-shine? Blue Dollar is back up to 9 bucks!!

    Aug 15th, 2013 - 07:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • El capitano

    Its about time that Britain gave Spain a little of its own medicine...Lets start with the “Fisheries”...what we have is a few Spaniards claiming that Gibralta has impeded their right to trawl almost up to the beaches by constructing an artificial “reef”..!!.Not a word has been said about Spanish vessels fishing “British Quota” in British waters...The facts are very simple...The Spanish fleet takes more fish from British waters in one week than that caught off Gibralta in a year...Britain should just maybe tell ALL Spanish vessels to vacate British Territorial Waters,and that the fishing of “British quota ”(flag of convenience) by Spanish crews will no longer be tolerated.The Spaniards have long been known as the biggest theives where ever they operate,when it comes to fishing quotas and now would be an excellent time for the Briish Gov; to inform them thats “Its all-over”,conservation of stocks...Belive me such action will get the immediate attention of the Spanish Gov;and if thats what it takes...so be it...!!

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 01:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Britworker

    @4
    I think this is where the interview saying “they know we could hurt them if we chose to” came from. But what Rajoy is trying to do is to get the Spanish people to rally around a national cause and kicking out their fishing fleet would play right into his hands. I do think it is a great idea though.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 02:02 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    #4
    I have said this in a previous post.
    Most of the Spanish vessels fish in waters round NW Scotland.
    I frequently see our SFPA vessels and aircraft in the Clyde - I believe we have 3 ships and 3 aircraft.
    These should be directed against Spanish vessels as a tit for tat return for Spain's treatment of Gib.
    Spanish vessels should be boarded regularly at sea, paperwork and catches examined and at the end of fishing, should be made to land their catches at a Scottish port for a thorough examination. They can then be reloaded and sent onwards IF everything meets legal requirements.
    A couple of weeks of this and the squeals would be heard in Madrid.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 06:08 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Musky

    #1 Port M

    Well yes, what advantage could there possibly be in being a spanish citizen as opposed to a british citizen, for Gibraltans?

    The Pros could be:

    No border crossings.

    The Cons could be:
    Spanish civil law is difference.
    Spanish corporate law is different.
    Exposure to a political entity less familiar with democracy and human rights as we have seen in recent weeks.
    Unemployment rates like that of the rest of spain.
    No more keeping calm and carrying on.
    No more pound (is that good/bad :-) ) - spanish bailouts !!!!
    Schooling at spanish universities and colleges rather than british ones.
    Loss of rights to self determination.
    Loss of naval visits and traditions.
    Loss of driving on the correct side of the road.

    Well, I know where the grass is greener, it clearly is in their best interests to stay british. A no-brainer really.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 06:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @4 I'm sort of with you, but I think a more direct approach is necessary. I would suggest fitting all British submarines with multiple grapnels guided by remote control. Hook spanish nets with grapnels. Set off in opposite direction and dive to maximum depth. Don't forget to deploy airborne assets to jam all radio and data transmissions. Result? Spanish fishing vessels regularly “disappear” in the “British Triangle”.
    @6 Take back all I said. Who cares what happens in or around Scotland? Scotland is of little interest to the major part of the UK. It's 3 boats and 2 aircraft. In compliance with the Salmond “Big Name Fools Everyone”, the SFPA has been renamed the “Marine Scotland Compliance and the Fisheries Research Services” (MSCFRS). Excellent news that spanish poachers will be sailing past UK waters to do their dirty deeds in somewhere that no longer matters. In UK waters, fishery protection is provided by the Royal Navy. That IS armed. There'll be lots more spanish poachers up north once it is recognised that the waters are non-EU.
    @7 Your comment is far too long. The way to simplify it is like this: spanish = not British, British = British. That's a REAL no-brainer!

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 08:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • El capitano

    6 Clyde15 (#)...I know the area to the NW of Scotland very well...Indeed those grounds where always known to the Grimsby fleet as the “Westward”...(no shit)...I fished them many moons ago before emmigrating to Canada....As for “Fisheries personnel” boarding and searching at sea this is done all the time by the Norwegian Fisheris patrol.Here in Canada “ALL” vessels operating within the Canadian EEZ do in fact have to carry(and pay for)a Canadian observer,plus such vessels are subject to be searched at ANY time by the “DFO”.Britain would only have to “hint” that its about to introduce the same procedure and the Spanish would have a shit fit.The only thing such countries as Spain(Arjuntina) respect(fear) is the retaliation of countries they choose to bully,and as we all know bullies are ALL cowards....Go for it Britain,start a search at sea program of all Spanish vessels/Observers on ALL Spanish vessels(Payed for by the vessel)..with the understanding that negotiations are about to begin with the intent to CLOSE all UK grounds to the Spanish fishery.The beauty of it all is that its ALL legal,unlike what Spain is indulging in with the harrassment of Gibralta and its people...!!

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 09:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    #8 C***
    Still peddling racist ballocks. When do you intend to start world war 3
    Tell you what, stand for the English National Socialist Party , get yourself on Newsnight with Mr. Paxman and explain your manifesto about nuking the countries you don't like -most of the world it seems !
    See the reaction from your fellow countrymen - in this case England.
    You would come across ( correction DO come across as barking mad )
    Up here, in sanity land, we try to ignore twats like you.
    Another alternative is to contact Dr. Who, get taken back to about 1840 and give three hearty huzzahs for good old England and set forth to kick the shit out of the fuzzy wuzzies.
    Does England have a fishing fleet, and if so, where does it fish ?
    Remember little Iceland? The RN were almost powerless in this case.
    The UK had to give in on this one and the Grimsby, Fleetwood and Lowestoft fleet were all but disbanded after this.
    By the way, where are you going to get all the forces needed to invade Argentina, Spain and probably Scotland. There are not enough men,ships or machines to do this.
    #9
    To get back to Captain sensible. We cannot legally close the fishing grounds to Spanish vessels under EU regulations.
    What I proposed is entirely within EU rules and although Spain would complain, it could not really do much about it. The checks are allowed under EU Fisheries regulations. If it happens to hit their vessels only ....tough.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 11:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Faz

    Heh heh heh!

    http://new.antarctica.ac.uk/apc/news/latest-additions-to-the-bat-gazetteer/

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 12:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Brit Bob

    @7 In Gibraltar they drive on the right side of the road.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 12:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Casper

    @8 Conqueror:

    “Scotland is of little interest to the major part of the U.K.”

    Scotland IS a major part of the U.K.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 12:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @10 Funny little child. Like most scots. More than 300 years of bailing you out, giving you money, showing you how to be civilised. Please don't forget that you hairy-arsed barbarians owe England £2 quadrillion. Please note that we will be glad to be rid of you. And if you don't repay what you owe, we will find other means. Here's a few clues. Got any international airlines? Got any cargo vessels? Ready to avoid UK airspace and territorial waters? Road vehicles? Forget it. Each one will require the driver to hold a valid Scottish passport, a £250 valid UK visa, a valid £1,000,000 insurance, a visa condition requiring the Scottish non-EU vehicle to exit the UK within 24 hours.
    Please try to get things in perspective. Britain hates argieland. Britain is moving toward hating spain. Scotland is of no interest to the UK. More than 300 years of being financially supported, taught to be civilised, although we have permitted the gender-benders to carry on wearing skirts. Eating horse-feed. Just like argieland, Scotland doesn't mention its debts. Supported by England, Great Britain and the UK for more than 300 years. And the Salmond slags? Show the world what they really are. Criminals, degenerates, liars.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 12:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Anbar

    Has somebody been feeding Conqueror LSD?

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 01:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • A_Voice

    15
    Sooooo .....Scotland not your favourite place then?
    BTW those skirts you mentioned were invented by an Englishman.....short kilt!
    Nothing wrong with porridge.....eat it every morning.....good complex carbohydrate!
    10
    Don't let him get away with that Clyde.....
    ......Tell him they ran like the petrified cowards they were at Bannockburn....Slaughtered as they fled.....TELL HIM!

    By oppression's woes and pains,
    By your sons in servile chains,
    We will drain our dearest veins,
    But they shall be free.
    Lay the proud usurpers low!
    Tyrants fall in ev'ry foe!
    Liberty's in ev'ry blow!
    Let us do or die!

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 01:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Casper

    @15 Anbar:

    Amphetamines would be my guess.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 01:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • A_Voice

    14
    Soooo.......Without Scotland where are you going to move all the Nuclear warheads at Coulport?
    Where are you going to move the nuclear powered submarine fleet to ...with no Faslane?
    Its deep water and secure location.....surrounded by natural defences.....and god knows what dug into those mountains and in the concrete bunkers.....
    .....Perhaps they could store them in your bedroom (Command Centre)

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 01:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    #14
    Actually, it is WE who taught you to be civilized, although it has not reached your ears as you drag your knuckles along the ground.
    Why are you using the royal WE ? That is the prerogative of H.M. Queen Elizabeth 1 of the U.K.- also with Scottish heritage.
    When did you get to be the Dictator of England to unilaterally decide policy for the rest of the UK ? Do you hear voices in your head from your supreme leader - the Emperor of the Lizard people.?
    I forgive you your transgressions as it it is not fair to mock the psychologically afflicted such as you.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 02:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • aussie sunshine

    You have to be an anglo for *14 to love you....I am amazed he hasn´t got stuck onto the Gibs after all they are 90% spanish.........

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 02:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • El capitano

    14 Conqueror (#).......................????????????

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 02:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • A_Voice

    20
    What do you mean by anglo?
    The Anglo/Saxons occupied Scotland right up to Edinburgh.....King Edin was an Anglo as was King Loth....Lothian......

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 02:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Brit Bob

    @20 Argie Sunshine

    Gibraltar was Muslim for 791 years
    Spanish for 211 years and has been
    British for 300 years.

    How on earth are the Gibraltarians 90% Spanish?

    Doh.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 02:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • aussie sunshine

    23* inter relation ..you know...The ladies have not enough men to satisfy their needs....so the 10000 spanish men are coming to do their duty.....

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 02:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Britworker

    @19
    Don't try to rationalise with that strange Conqueror person, he does have the odd lucid moment, but as a rule he is barmy as these Argentines trying to pass themselves off as Australians.
    Getting back to topic I can see a British allegiance with Morocco coming on, it's about time that pot got stirred up.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 03:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Anbar

    “”“”23* inter relation ..you know...The ladies have not enough men to satisfy their needs....so the 10000 spanish men are coming to do their duty.....“”“”

    Did you know that you can identify the sex of a writer by how they write?

    You can also get a pretty good handle on where they are from.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 03:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • nigelpwsmith

    Well, it looks as if it will all kick off on Sunday. The Spanish fishermen had a meeting this afternoon and agreed to try and raise the concrete blocks from the Gibraltar reef.

    http://www.intereconomia.com/noticias-gaceta/politica/quien-tiene-que-retirar-los-bloques-gibraltar-20130816

    The Royal Navy warships arrive on Monday, so the fishermen are getting together to try and move them before the Royal Navy prevents them. Only problem is that the blocks weigh 12 tonnes each and they would have to send down divers to attach the lifting gear. Divers can be arrested and the Royal Gibraltar Police and Gibraltar Squadron of the Royal Navy will be there. Not to mention quite a few Gibraltarian divers, who may assist the RGP.

    The news crews have been alerted, so you may be able to watch the spectacle on News 24 or Sky News.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 04:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • aussie sunshine

    *26 Good God!! we have a bloody genius!! were you born with this gift or did you find it in a packet of cornflakes!!??

    Nobody is going to remove anything!! Just using their constitutional right to demonstrate!! or does Picardo want to sink that to?!

    *25 LOL You come right out of a comic book..

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 05:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Brasileiro

    @ 3 FI_Frost

    I like that. I see in that week. The flag from Brasil, the music, i LOVE. I can give my life for my country, easy. More lifes...please. Thanks.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 05:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • El capitano

    10 Clyde15 (#...The facts surrounding the demise of the British deep water fishing fleet...Grimsby...Fleetwood...Hull are so very simple...Total incompetence on behalf of the British Gov; (Labour gov:)..The Icelanders did in fact offer the British Fishery 80,000 tons of fish per year,but the negotiating commitee led by Anthony Crossland (MP for Grimsby no less) where under instructions from London to accept NO QUOTA'S.Capt Don Lister one of the top skippers out of Grimsby and a member of that commitee advised Crossland to take the Icelandic offer...We all know what happened,he refused,the Icelanders said bye bye and the rest is history...A huge thriving industry vanished overnight and ONLY because of the incompetence of the Gov; of that time...As for the common fisheries policy of the EU,its a total sham and the sooner the UK gets clear of it the better off its own fleet will be..plus less presure on the ground fish stocks..Both Iceland and Norway decided NOT to join the EU primarily because of the hare brained “Common Fisheries Policy”its a total disaster..scrap it THEN tell the Spaniards to get lost..Vamoose...!!

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 06:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • A_Voice

    28
    I like it.....one of my favourite lines.....
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nvdh0FMzr0

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 06:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • aussie sunshine

    *31 Jim kelly passed away last week. R.I.P.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 06:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Ernie4001

    As the spanish guys keep growing in the UK they will say that britain is part of them. So, it´s a clear warning to seek all the spaniards living in britain and send them back.

    Aug 16th, 2013 - 08:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Monkeymagic

    I can now get 6:1 on bet fair against Scottish Independence. Looks like its another one of A-holes wet dreams that isn't going to happen.

    Poor A-hole.

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 05:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • A_Voice

    Stupid Monkey so easily fooled.......have a banana.....have two!
    Gotcha......little monkey hand caught in the jar!
    Ahh! dreams......
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFFQbO0Ko8E

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 06:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Anglotino

    Blue door...... hungry hippo...... Mouldy bread.. Spring onion.

    Fish chair sinking.

    Wow I too can write a collection of random words than mean nothing.

    You're not that difficult to emulate A_Voice.

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 10:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • A_Voice

    36
    WTF are you talking about?
    What random words?.......Monkey......banana
    How do you fool and catch a stupid monkey?
    Have you never heard?........Secure a jar big enough for the monkey to put it's hand in, put a large nut or piece of fruit....plum maybe in the jar.....Stupid monkey will not let go of it's prize.......can't get it's hand out!
    Stupid MonkeyMagic...... Scottish Independence indeed.....he walked right into that one!
    Don't you know anything???
    Don't you feel silly now?

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 11:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Pete Bog

    Well I'm sure Rajoy knows what he's doing-if UK tourists chose another destination, UK inspects Spanish fishing boats and stop buying Spanish tomatoes,the tomatoes might last till they get to Argentina were they can't get enough and floods of Argies will replace the UK tourists in Spain. Then when UK withdraws, or votes against economic help to Spain the Argies can chuck a few pesos Spain's way. Rajoy might be disappointed with the results, like the failure of his Grecian 2000 in colouring his beard to match his hair.

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 04:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • El capitano

    I am wating for the British Gov; to get off its ass and call for a BOYCOT..of Spain and anything Spanish......Period...!!

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 05:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • puerto argentino

    Pirates!! The time is over. there is not much time for you pirates!!

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 06:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    Tick tock, tick tock, argh me hearties, give em a whiff of grape!

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 06:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • aussie sunshine

    *39 A Boycot works both ways!! Spain is the uk´s 8th trading partner worth 10 billion pounds and growing..........tell the British companies your silly proposal....and see where they send you!!

    Aug 17th, 2013 - 09:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • FI_Frost

    @40 puerto argentino

    So you are are pulling out of Patagonia then? Cool, fair play to you there.

    Aug 18th, 2013 - 02:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Anbar

    “”“”You have to be an anglo for *14 to love you....I am amazed he hasn´t got stuck onto the Gibs after all they are 90% spanish.........“”“

    If they're 90% Spanish why did they vote to remain British?

    It is, probably, the most enduring thing about the Malvo Sock-Puppets on this site: their ability to so regularly shoot themselves in the foot. :-0

    - - -

    Rajoy is just desperate, so anything to distract the populace.

    Sound familiar?

    ---

    I hear on the grapevine that a UK-supported Native Indian group is taking Argentina to the ICJ seeking restitution and reparation for the illegal seizure of indigenous lands and the near-genocidal campaign of the ”so called Argentines” (nee Europeans).

    They will also be requesting that Patagonia is added to the C24 so that the true owners of that land can kick out the filthy genocidal scuzz-buckets who have stolen it form them.

    Apparently they had no wish to be brutally subjugated (as these “Argentines” claimed) and they want their country back.

    An Argentine spokesperson was heard to say “We've always lived here, the Indians are lying. You can tell by their names that they are not true Argentines... there isnt a Dietrich, Himmler or Kirchner amongst them!”

    Aug 18th, 2013 - 04:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • El capitano

    42 aussie sunshine (#.....Give your head a shake boyo....A boycot of Spain by the Brits would spell disaster for Spain right now..Anything and EVERYTHING Britain imports from Spain can be aquired elsewhere...(Greece maybe)...And while we are taliking Boycot...that means the imediate expulsion of ALL Spanish fishing vessels from UK waters...Face it mouthpiece..your country(Spain) is flat assed BROKE...!!

    Aug 19th, 2013 - 12:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Pete Bog

    @40
    Judging by the continuing collapse of your economy (what's new?). it looks like you'll be walking the plank as you've managed to turn treasure island into the laughing stock of South America.

    Still, when Argentina bows down to Mugabe's methods what can you expect?

    Aug 19th, 2013 - 11:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Anglotino

    The UK government is not juvenile to boycott Spain.

    This is the EU, not the Olympics during the Cold War!

    Aug 20th, 2013 - 11:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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