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Montevideo, March 28th 2024 - 09:39 UTC

 

 

UK and Overseas Territories: “perhaps a review of relations is appropriate”

Saturday, October 27th 2018 - 09:29 UTC
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Flags of the Union Jack and Gibraltar Flags of the Union Jack and Gibraltar

For years there was consensus between the major UK political parties about the Overseas Territories, but that has now changed and the OTs now face a “more hostile and less supportive UK political class,” Dr Peter Clegg said, adding that perhaps a review of relations is appropriate, one which would “offer the Territories more autonomy, address the UN’s decolonization agenda, and give the Territories a stronger foreign policy voice.”

Dr Clegg is an Associate Professor of Politics University at the West of England who has studied and written extensively on the OTs, and was providing a submission for the British Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee inquiry in to the ‘Future of the UK Overseas Territories’.

The inquiry is into “How the Foreign Office manages its responsibility to ensure the security and stability of the UK’s 14 Overseas Territories,” and the Committee began hearing oral evidence this week, with Dr Clegg appearing before the Committee.

Clegg said, “For many years there has been a high degree of consensus between the major political parties in terms of how the Overseas Territories should be managed and supported. But that has now changed, which has made their position more vulnerable.

“On the Left, the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn, has been more forthright in its criticisms of some of the Territories, arguing that if they do not make radical changes to their financial services industries, then direct rule from London should be considered. Corbyn has drawn parallels with the decision of the last Labour government to impose direct rule on the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“Meanwhile on the Right, the longstanding support of many Conservative MPs has been compromised as a result of their position on Brexit. When it came to getting the UK out of the EU, these MPs conveniently ignored the Territories strong preference for remaining. Thus, the Territories are now facing a much more hostile and less supportive UK political class”.

Dr Clegg added, “The UK’s existing constitutional, political and economic approach to the Territories that has been in place for almost twenty years is sustainable. There has been relative stability for most of that period, but it is clear from recent events that the governing framework is brittle, and does not necessarily serve the Territories particularly well.

“Thus perhaps a more radical review of relations is now appropriate, which would offer the Territories more autonomy; address the UN's decolonization agenda; give the Territories a stronger foreign policy voice; make good any loss in EU financial support post-Brexit; and provide extra financing to establish the foundations of more sustainable and diversified economies.

“By enacting such reforms, the UK’s international reputation would be enhanced, and the Territories’ confidence in promoting their own and the UK’s interests would be boosted.”

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  • gordo1

    Each Overseas Territory has its own history and these vary considerable. For example, Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands. Both these territories are threatened by two alien countries which fail to recognise the legitimate sovereignty of the United Kingdom.

    However, it seems to me that in order for Spain to achieve its aims legitimately then the Treaty of Utrecht, insofar as the cession of El Peñon is concerned, would have to be renegotiated UNLESS the UK is 'persuaded” to cede the territory to Spain! And this will never happen - especially as the inhabitants of Gibraltar are totally against any voluntary cession. Britain has defended Gibraltar against Spain several times since 1704 - the siege of 1779/1883 being particularly bitter. The border was closed in 1959 for 15 years.

    The Falklands Islands are British but are claimed by Argentina. There is absolutely no merit to the claims made by Argentina, and the UK rightly rejects these claims. If Argentina were to take its claim to the International Court of Justice it would be laughed out of court as none of its support for sovereignty is genuine.

    As far as other Overseas Territories most of them are in the western hemisphere and depend on tourism for their wellbeing - these should be offered independence.

    Oct 28th, 2018 - 12:27 pm 0
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