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Leaving the EU would be disastrous for the Falklands, Gibraltar and Ulster
By William Hague - Among the most inspiring experiences of my time in politics was meeting people who, in spite of great pressure to the contrary, chose to be British. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesWell said, Mr Hague!
May 10th, 2016 - 07:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0I, for one, have considered the effects on the Falklands, Gibraltar and Ulster. As usual, I can start with one question. How did we manage before we joined the EU? Here I can indulge in a bit of Tory-bashing. Why have we run our armed forces down so far? Let us imagine that position of the Falklands were to be supported by replacing the company of infantry, 4 combat aircraft and 1 on-station and one visiting warship were replaced by a battalion of infantry, a full flight of combat aircraft and an on-station patrol boat, frigate, destroyer and submarine. Not forgetting a properly-publicised change in attitude where, in respect of intruding aircraft and vessels, the aim would be destruction. Visiting south americans acting in an unacceptable fashion would simply be imprisoned for a minimum of a year.
May 10th, 2016 - 07:56 am - Link - Report abuse 0Spain could be treated in much the same way. Unauthorised aircraft and vessels, of whatever ownership, could be arrested, seized or sunk with aircraft being shot down. Surviving crew members could join ordinary spaniards found to be acting improperly in imprisonment. The tunnels last used in WW2 could be refurbished to provide accommodation.
Ulster is a different situation. The first step would be to expel the Republic from the Common Travel Area. This would be the basis for introducing the use of passports and visas. The armed forces could take their role in patrolling the border and the coastline. In the event of attempted illegal entry they will be armed and ready to fire.
We've become too soft, William. In time, our “neighbours” will learn to respect our revised attitude. Bullets, torpedos and missiles are very persuasive arguments.
Bullets, torpedos and missiles are very persuasive arguments.
May 10th, 2016 - 08:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0Yes they are BUT other countries have them also. There is one word that covers this scenario.....WAR !
Do you really wish to go down this road ?
Project Fear has gone too far this week. I hope this strategy backfires for Remain the same way Goldsmith's negative campaign blew up in his face.
May 10th, 2016 - 09:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0“More than a third of all exports from Northern Ireland go to Ireland”
May 10th, 2016 - 09:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0Not true...
“ Exports to the Republic of Ireland account for 37% of exports to the EU and 21% of total exports”
http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2016/eti/2116.pdf
I dont think that the fate of Northern Ireland Gibraltar or the Falkland Islands is significant in whether to vote to leave the EU. And if you are living in England whatever Wonder Woman north of the border is going to do, is also irrelavent. Light Bulb is just another government stooge. The whole point of a referendum is so that the will of the people can be freely expressed. Methinks the government doth protest too much.
May 10th, 2016 - 10:56 am - Link - Report abuse 0Hague was a decent Foreign Secretary and he is brighter than most of the present lot especially Camoron and Ossie.
May 10th, 2016 - 11:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0However welcome as his comments are, they fail miserably when it comes to sovereignty and protecting the outlying parts of the UK.
Why have we got the aircraft carriers in production, to save the EU, help America or to defend the country from threat?
I cannot see the Spanish ever getting their shit together to attack Gib, they would be too busy making the shit when faced with UK forces.
No, the Falklands are the ones who may be 'invaded' so ask the armed forces if they are 'up' for it, but stand out of their way in the stampede to be selected.
No, the scare objective of Project Fear is dished by the lies they use to 'prove' their point when it is clear to the majority in the UK that to save the country for their children's future it is best to leave.
VOTE LEAVE, except for the Chief RCC apologist.
William Hague joins a long list of other previous Eurosceptics who now tell us that the sky will fall on our heads if we dare to leave the EU. What a load of nonsense. These scaremongers should be ashamed of themselves and much better that they gave their time to addressing the really significant issues on immigration into the UK and the right of the people of the UK to make their own laws rather than have them imposed upon them by unelected figures in Brussels. We know the direction in which the EU is travelling. We can resist and stand on the side-lines for a period of time but sooner or later the UK will get sucked into centre whether it likes it or not. The EU is like a black hole in more ways than one.
May 10th, 2016 - 11:26 am - Link - Report abuse 0Sorry but BOT's will play no role in my decision making in the same way I refuse to vote REMAIN to prevent Scotland buggering off.
May 10th, 2016 - 01:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 03 - lol conq would gladly send other people down that road. His boyish obsession for all things military technology is matched only by his unawareness of the epic ass raping GB would receive if it attacked Spain at home.
May 10th, 2016 - 03:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Conq, let me make this clear.
As we can see Ireland, Argentina and Spain have all simultaneously wronged the poor plucky underdog that is GB. (Why so many countries start fights with Britain I'll never know).
But despite my presence on this site you won't find one suggestion from me that Argentina or Ireland stand a chance of militarily un-inviting GB from the respective ... “settled”...territories.
Because I'm a realist.
Spain/GiB however is a perfect storm for which there is no possible military victory possible for Britain. Conventional or nuclear. Attrition or legal. In the highly undesirable, destructive and foolish scenario of Spain rolling through the Gib border there is no possibility of Spain handing it back to Britain.
The only reason I have to say this is conqs stupidity. Most others realise this and take the high road, leaving the clarkson attitude to places where its actually practicable.
7 - GB built aircraft carrier to save the EU ... Oh this one I have to hear.
Lets see, he is saying what might happen and not that it will, a lot of what he says is quite true. It is because we have a number of EU treaties that they support us on the question of both Gib and the Falkalands, it is also true that Spain could once again close it's land border with Gib and this would have a adverse effect on the economy, it is also true that the Falklands could suffer economicly if we leave. As for NI trade this is a except from the NI Assembly reserch into leaving the EU and the implications for NI. ”In 2014, Northern Ireland exports to the EU were valued at £3.63bn; compared to non-EU exports which were valued at £2.35bn (total exports were valued at £5.978bn). Over the period, the value of Northern Ireland’s exports to the EU has increased by 28%, whilst the value of exports to non-EU countries increased by 25%”. As for the comments regarding the use of the British armed forces have we forgoten the 70's? I know that I have not and I sure as hell wouldnt want to see our boys in another sensless shooting war as it tends to kill people. Having served I will tell you this war is not a bloody computer game it is dirty and cruel. Haig has not said that any of this would happen only that it is a possibility I would be very happy indeed if someone could guarentee for me that it wouldnt. Now for how we did things before the EU well thats easy we had the Commonwealth but when we joined the EU we shat on them from a great hight, sure we could pick up trade deals with them again but not at the same level as pre EU, they have made new markets for themselfs so why should they bend over to help us after we dumped them? Thing is guy's if you have a vote then use it but think very long and hard before you make any choice, be it in or out. both carry risks.
May 10th, 2016 - 03:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2016/eti/2116.pdf
William Hague is a gutless traitor like cowardly Cameron
May 10th, 2016 - 06:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0and so is this government, project fear is alive and well,
if this government thinks all these bad things will happen then he should never have given us a referendum,
his first priority is the defence of great Britain,
so he is either lying or lying, you cant have it both ways,
vote leave.
12 - exactly. 1st priority Great Britain.
May 10th, 2016 - 07:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Not the UK.
Cause we all know that the whole NI thing was a stretch, just an idea that went badly wrong.
Here's an idea ... Spend some of the £55M A DAY saved by leaving the EU to rebuild the Armed Forces ?
May 11th, 2016 - 03:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Anyway , 99.9% of people in the UK who do vote in the referendum will hardly be thinking “ I must remember the effect on the Falklands and Gibraltar of my vote ”
#13
May 11th, 2016 - 09:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Cause we all know”.... Do we ? Just a rehash of the good old Argie platitude...”the whole world knows OR the whole world agrees.
@13
May 12th, 2016 - 12:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0”Cause we all know2
Who exactly does 'all' refer to?
Cause we all know
May 12th, 2016 - 07:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Who.
The UK will return the Malvinas within 25 years.
May 14th, 2016 - 12:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0#18
May 14th, 2016 - 12:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Still stuck in a time warp poor old soul OR is dementia coming fast.
18@
May 14th, 2016 - 06:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Tomorrow. ?
15, 16, 17.
May 16th, 2016 - 07:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Oh just admit it.
#21
May 17th, 2016 - 11:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0“the whole NI thing was a stretch,”
I don't even know what that means !!
21 Vestige (#
May 17th, 2016 - 06:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0??
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