MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
British parliament sends strong message to Spain decrying belligerence towards Gibraltar
British MPs from across the political spectrum sent “an extremely powerful message” to the Spanish Government voicing anger at its treatment of Gibraltar and its people. Parliamentarians from all the major British political parties spoke in unison to decry Spanish belligerence toward the Rock during a 40-minute emergency session in the House of Commons. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesI watched it, the concencus seemed to be that Spain were trying to provoke the UK into escalating the situation, perhaps by arresting and impounding one of the vessels but the UK is not going to play their game.
Nov 21st, 2013 - 07:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I think we can expect more of the same from Spain and the same response or rather, the lack of it from the UK.
Time to send in some more military assets, methinks.
Nov 21st, 2013 - 07:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0In the eyes of the good , loyal , obedient , and law abiding ,
Nov 21st, 2013 - 07:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The British will not yet send a navy ship, as this might be provocative,
And we cant have that,?
Today however the Spanish have sent a navy ship to escort the first ship, [just in case]
But this is not seen as provocative,
Apparently only the British can be provocative,
They are our waters, state the government, but we must not stop anyone from entering them, as this is provocative,
But Spain apparently can do what it likes,, when it likes , where it likes , and to whom it likes,
As this is not provocative,
Apparently then? If Spain sent troops over the boarder to embark on a Spanish ship,
Protected by a Spanish navy destroyer , backed up by Spanish air force jets landing on Gibraltar’s runway,
This may not bee seen as provocative,
But god help the British if they try to stop them,
For this would be seen as provocative ,
The only way to get round this stupid farce , by a stupid government, is to wake up, protect British interests and fxck the word provocative right where the sun don’t shine between the Spanish and the EU,??
Still,
As long as the unmighty EU don’t catch on,, the more they treat us like the leaper they do,
The more chance of us leaving this stupid EU,
And then see what happens to the arrogant Spanish flies..lol
mr simmonds why dont you gat a job at the human rights office,
you give to much to others, whilst ignoring the real sufferers.
“political and diplomatic mechanisms” have been exhausted. No responsible “nation” would permit a foreign enemy to dictate terms. Every suitable military asset should be mobilised. Artillery, light/medium/heavy tanks, submarine-launched missiles, attack helicopters, combat aircraft, nuclear missiles. And let Spain see it all. And realise what Britain is capable of doing. Let us make no mistake. Spain started this. Illegal incursions. Poaching. Illegal overflights. Illegitimate border measures. Illegal “executive” actions in Gibraltar waters. Firing on Gibraltar citizens. Anybody think of any “legal” Spanish actions? And legitimate British actions would be? Impose an Exclusive Economic Area. Inform Spain that incursions will be met by deadly force. No further warnings.
Nov 21st, 2013 - 08:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yeah #2 - You better send something impressive if you want Spain to even take notice.
Nov 21st, 2013 - 08:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The only response you might get is a sht load of tanks arriving in Andalucia.
lol #3 -
Wants Britain to leave the EU because of whats going on in Gibraltar.
Fails to realize what would happen to Gibraltar if Britain left the EU
@5
Nov 21st, 2013 - 10:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Obviously the Spanish are playing a game, one you seem to be enjoying. The Spanish government need this dispute to continue in exactly the same way Argentina uses and needs the Falklands dispute.
But what will be achieved and where will it end and who will end up being the crushed loser?
Which country does NATO need least, which country does the EU need least, which country relies on tourism more.
Which country is showing extraordinary restraint whilst being bated, despite being the far greater military and economic power.
Time will tell.
So all Spain has now done is united disparate politicians in the UK against it.
Nov 21st, 2013 - 10:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Stiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllllllllllll waiting for someone to tell me a single benefit that Spain has gained so far. Just one..... teeny tiny itsty bitsy yellow polka dot bikini one!
@7 anglotino
Nov 21st, 2013 - 11:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The benefit is that the Spanish government use this business to divert attention away from the economic woes of the country. Gibson is simply stunning its whipping boy.
Musky
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 12:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0That is what I thought. But I have been assured by our resident expert of nothing, Vestige, that this is not the case because it is hardly reported in the Spanish press.
Therefore poor incompetent Spain hasn't even managed to gain deflection or propoganda. So seems they stuffed it up completely.
@9
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 03:32 am - Link - Report abuse 0I will make a great effort to seek you when Australia is broke, and economically knocked out. You laugh today, about others poblems if you wish, and dismiss that Australia will ever be in the same position. But it will happen, inevitably it does.
I know you will say nothing of the Australia of the 1980s, with minimal growth, high unemployment, no dynamism. But it will happen again. And then I will so much laugh at you.
@8 Musky
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 07:33 am - Link - Report abuse 0Autocomplete went mad...
Spanish politicians don't care about the effect on Gibraltans or local spaniards and the best way to fight back is to avoid their country, avoid their products. Sadly you have to hurt the man in the street to affect a government.
Oh dear Anglo. I think the tit in post number ten has flapped his cape at you.
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 07:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0Ah Vestige at it again are we trying to take enjoyment from a ridiculous situation? It's very clear the British Military could crush the Spanish military not that it needs too as we could easily achieve the same economically by blocking further loans to it and/or by reducing trade/tourism to a country that will be bankrupt without European widespread support.
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 07:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0Desperate actions from a desperate country that is trying to prove something but is only embarrassing itself on a global level in the same way Argentina has done.
I think the UK's position is very wise in giving Spain enough rope to hang itself with.
l wouldn't worry too much about Gibraltar, Spain.
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 10:02 am - Link - Report abuse 0You're probably going to have your hands full & lose Catalonia soon.
And can you defend Melilla too?
Ceuta, maybe, but Melilla is a bit isolated, no?
When the rot starts, all sorts of people may go their own way in Spain.
Poor Spain.
Strong support to our many friends in Gibraltar. We have all seen it all before, and they will come through the other side stronger and more determined. The Spanish Government is as gormless as their descendents in Argentina. Absolutely no understanding of the human race, no understanding of Islanders, no understanding of fundamental human rights, and scant contact with reality (except the unfortunate reality of being economic basket cases).
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 10:57 am - Link - Report abuse 0I think hiring HMS pickle would be the appopiate response you want to behave like idiots we shall chase you with a sailing boat.
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 01:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Unless theirs a golden hind replica handy.
That should put the spanish gentlemen back in their box
lol #3 -
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 01:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Wants Britain to leave the EU because of whats going on in Gibraltar.
Fails to realize what would happen to Gibraltar if Britain left the EU
1. The UK should have left the EU years ago,
2. We are not wanted or liked , the fact is they need us , more then we need them,
3. Gibraltar will follow us , full stop
4. On the other hand they could go independent , stay in the EU and be assimilated by Spain,
5. What would one suggest..lol
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
in a faur world, if britain must give up all claims , THEN all countries must give up all claims,
and thus this very act, would deprive Argentina and spain , of gibralter and the falklands would it not..??
@10 Nostrils
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 02:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I have told you more than once! Don't LIE about what I have said - “You laugh today, about others poblems if you wish, and dismiss that Australia will ever be in the same position.”
I expect you to provide a quote and hyperlink.
Secondly, you can't argue. Wow for someone who can pick up languages so well you sure are thick as a plank of wood sometimes.
“I know you will say nothing of the Australia of the 1980s, with minimal growth, high unemployment, no dynamism. But it will happen again. And then I will so much laugh at you.”
YES! Australia was in economic trouble in the 1980s! That is why we REFORMED. We had problems and issues and we fixed them.
We had inefficient industry behind tariff walls - so we removed them.
Our currency was fixed and expensive - so we floated it.
Our labour market was inflexible and inefficient - so we increased productivity.
We needed to diversify our export markets - so we did.
Our tax system was inefficient - so we introduced a GST.
Our government ran deficits during the good years - so we ran surpluses.
Our government debt was growing - so we eventually paid it all off.
Our government owned businesses - so we privatised them.
And we will have problems and issues again and we will reform and fix them as well.
But you have to go back THIRTY YEARS to talk about Australia's economic problems.
I only have to go back 30 MINUTES to do the same for Argentina.
We've have 22 years of growth and have one of the richest, safest, stablest and prosperous nations on the planet.
Your country went bankrupt 12 years ago, is now an energy importer, has shrinking currency reserves, tanking currency, sky high inflation, net migration out and your government has its own goon squad keeping the population in line.
By all means talk about Australia in the 1980s.
lol - xect
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 05:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Im not “trying to take enjoyment from a ridiculous situation”.
I AM taking enjoyment from a ridiculous situation.
it looks like you're in the delusions of grandeur club too.
Hows Britain going to crush Spain on its home turf.
There'll be a lot of landing craft needed, and at least 1 aircraft carrier.
Love the tourism threat too - ridiculous. Tourists flock to Spain from every country.
Britain will remain a well behaved EU member cause it knows whats best for it.
Love it when Argies predict how the UK will react, because so far they have been spectacularly wrong!
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 06:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Delusions of grandeur? Possibly but then if I suffer that then you suffer from not accepting facts.
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 06:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Which country provides the highest proportion of Spain's tourism? Oh yes that will be the UK.
Would us economically blocking Spain hurt Spain? Well doh! Thats obvious is it not?
And for a country that is clearly on its knees and needs our support with the other European nations just so it doesn't default, it puts the UK is a position of complete power when we mention economics.
Also your assertions of a land war are very old fashioned, not to mention saying we need an aircraft carrier when Spain is obviously close enough to the UK that we could easily strike from the mainland which means there is zero requirement for one. How does 1,000 cruise missiles suit landing on Spanish military bases and infrastructure and our far more powerful air force sound? If we are being factual, then the British military can defeat the Spanish military in any number of ways.
But hey if you want to believe Spain is in the position of power fill your boots lol!!!
close embassy for a month over Christmas and send Spanish diplomats back home with a promise!!!
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 06:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The best response would be to drop a few more concrete blocks in British Gibraltar territorial waters and extend the 3-mile territorial seas to 12-miles.
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 08:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@23 Muy bueno, BritBob
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 08:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The problem is... How do to get concrete?
@24
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 08:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Delivered by sea. I should imagine the RFA Argus could drop a few tonnes in the middle of the night. It could then be filmed and exclusively shown on Gib TV.
The Uk needs to take there fingers out of there a-- and do something really hard about this, wake the Spanish up and let them see that they can not treat British Gibraltar people like this, as it sends a soft message to Argentina that they to can treat the Falkland people any way they like.
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 09:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You know the best way to wind up a shit stirrer?
Nov 22nd, 2013 - 10:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Ignore him.
The UK need an 'enemy' that is controlled; Spain is on the leash. This way the military builds and military cuts can be shown to have purpose.
Nov 23rd, 2013 - 04:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Spain needs to prod the UK to do something in the Bay. This will give the national publicity it is so desperate to get.
Why?
Simply for the classic reason that it coheres the nation state. At a time when Spain could so very easily disintegrate into its constituent parts, it needs an external 'enemy' that is controlled.
As Macmillan might have said “Externalities, dear boy; externalities.”
Both major nations NEED a predictable external 'enemy' atm.
Poor old Gibraltar will 'get by' and will be recompensed by the UK in due course for the distress being suffered.
The distressed Spanish cross-border workers will, of course, get nothing.
I would have thought the UK's external issue was the EU, not something as inconsequential as Spain.
Nov 24th, 2013 - 09:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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