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“Antiquated and muddled”, Corbyn's views on BOTs says Gibraltar's opposition leader
Daniel Feetham argued that Mr Corbyn comments on the Falklands, “do have implications for us as it probably reflects his thinking on Gibraltar too”. 
“Mr Corbyn takes no account of the fact that the people in these territories feel as British as anyone in the UK, and UK has a responsibility to respect their wishes” The Leader of Gibraltar's Opposition has described UK Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn’s views on overseas territories as ‘antiquated and muddled’.
Daniel Feetham has written to Mr. Corbyn following his comments on the Andrew Marr BBC show, arguing that while his remarks did not refer to Gibraltar, since they were directed to the Falkland Islands, “it does have implications for us as it probably reflects his thinking on Gibraltar too”.
The GSD leader says Mr. Corbyn takes no account of the fact that the people in these territories feel as British as anyone in the United Kingdom and that the United Kingdom has a responsibility to respect their wishes.
Mr Feetham says here is only one principle that matters in these cases and that is the principle of self-determination, and as a democrat Mr. Corbyn would do well to remember the commitments provided to Gibraltar by successive UK Governments.
In his controversial comments, Jeremy Corbyn stated it was 'ridiculous' to continue the dispute with Argentina over Falklands' sovereignty, and demanded a 'sensible dialogue' over the Islands future.
“There has to be a discussion about how we can bring about some reasonable accommodation with Argentina. It seems to me ridiculous that in the 21st Century we could get into some enormous conflict with Argentina about the Islands just off it“.
As to the Falkland Islanders, Corbyn told Marr that: “They've got the right to stay where they are, they have got a right to decide on their own future and that will be part of it”, but then asked if Islanders should have a right to veto, he added “let's have that discussion and let's not say agendas in advance.”
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Read all commentsAntiquated and muddled.... pretty much describes Corbyn full stop.
Jan 27th, 2016 - 08:24 am 0Corbyn's problem on the Falkland Islands is that he is one of those unreconstructed communist leaning left wing socialists from the 60's who were so disappointed by Thatcher's election victory in 1983 that they blamed the Falkland Islands for it. We have dealt with this for years with Dayell, Benn, the loon from Islington and their little coterie.
Jan 27th, 2016 - 11:14 am 0Common sense and a willingness to engage has over the years persuaded many of them that the fundamental human rights of Falkland Islanders are more important than their pique over losing the election. Even George Foulkes now claims to be one of our biggest allies.
So Corbyn will need to open his mind and listen. And then he might be in a better position to make a proper judgement. Even then it might go against all his natural instincts for things South American (especially women).
@2
Jan 27th, 2016 - 04:35 pm 0“Even George Foulkes now claims to be one of our biggest allies.”
That is quite a transformation. I remember how Eric Ogden related an exchange with Foulkes when MPA was opened,for not listening to Islander's views.
Also there is Michael Foot's speech on Youtube (from April 1982) in which he has no doubt that the Falkland Islanders should determine their future and he rightly berated the Conservatives for letting the Islanders down by allowing the Invasion.
And Foot was left wing!
Another thing that puzzles me. You would imagine that Corbyn would support a small nation that has had a national blueprint drawn up by a Labour Peer (Lord Shackleton), that reversing absentee firms owning the Falklands to one where effectively everything was nationalised and has most of its utilities (is this still so?) such as water, power, FIGAS, much social housing, and a thriving public sector funded and run by the FIG.
You would have thought that this society, effectively blueprinted by a Labour peer, mostly state run with healthcare and education freely provided, would resonate with Corbyn.
His problem is that if everyone in the Shadow cabinet who disagrees with Corbyn's Falkland views leaves it, Corbyn is stuffed as the people who elected him Labour leader, do not represent the majority of voters in the UK.
Odd, that he claims to go to great lengths to listen to people but not to the Falkland Islanders.
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