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Boris Johnson: Political status of the Falkland Islands is not going to change

Friday, December 20th 2019 - 09:58 UTC
Full article 15 comments

Prime Minister Boris Johnson in his Christmas message to the Falkland Islands points out the second commercial flight to South America as the great achievement of 2019, and assures that his government's support “for your right to determine your own political status is not going to change” Read full article

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  • RedBaron

    BoJo is sending a mixed message by saying that the Falklands have self-determination but have no control over membership and access to the EU on trade tariffs for fish and meat.His letter to the Falklanders sounds like Hyslop has run through the Penguin News cuttings and listed every soundbyte he can drag up to make it sound like he cares, without addressing any of the real issues. Typical Boris.

    Dec 20th, 2019 - 10:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Roger Lorton

    The Islanders are far safer under Boris than they would have been under Corbyn.

    Dec 20th, 2019 - 01:29 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
  • Think

    Mr. RedBaron...

    Don't be harsh with Sir Hysslop...

    It ain't that poor chaps responsibility...

    Cutting and listing every soundbyte or line they can drag up to make things sound favorable to them Engrish squatters in Malvinas is the sole“Raison d'être” of PenguinNews & MercoPress...

    Dec 20th, 2019 - 06:27 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • RMN

    Roger - could you point me to some objective evidence on this assertion please......

    Dec 22nd, 2019 - 09:04 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
  • RedBaron

    Roger, you may be right about that comparison (anything would have been better than Corbyn - even a panto horse), but the fact remains that Brexit was conjured up and espoused by Johnson on bogus statements and lies, egged on by Farage. Brexit is doing no favours for the Islanders in the UK or the Falklands. Who will buy Falklands lamb now?

    Dec 23rd, 2019 - 12:57 am - Link - Report abuse +1
  • Roger Lorton

    RMN = https://www.fiassociation.com/article/612/corbyn_on_the_falklands__andrew_marr_interview_on_17_january

    RedBaron = People who need food will buy Falklands lamb. Or fish. The planet is going tits up. Food is food. Food will sell.

    Dec 23rd, 2019 - 11:20 am - Link - Report abuse +1
  • RMN

    Roger - Thank you for your response. I still dispute the idea that Islanders are far safer under Johnson. Unless the Islands serve a purpose to him and his friends then they will never be a top priority for the Conservatives. Now which party was Nicholas Ridley from...….

    Dec 23rd, 2019 - 11:57 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Roger Lorton

    Ridley? He was never a threat. You can dispute all you like, but the Tories have always protected the idea of the Falklands. Labour has been the only threat, although, in fairness, the Party recognized some time back that Corbyn's attitude was unacceptable.

    You want to know about Ridley? https://falklandstimeline.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/1972-to-1982.pdf

    Dec 23rd, 2019 - 12:06 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
  • RMN

    Roger - I'm not saying the Tories are a threat, just that I wouldn't trust them. It will be all the more interesting once “Brexit” has occurred as the Islands will no longer be an overseas dependency of an EU nation, so I wonder if arguments over the Islands and Gibraltar will increase.

    By the way, contrary to common perception, as a Socialist I can fully appreciate and support the rights of the Islanders to self-determination and have never had any misapprehension about Argentina having a claim on the Islands. My concerns are as much about who benefits from Tory (and others) interests in “developing” the Islands, since not all Falklanders appear to be equal!

    Regards,

    Dec 23rd, 2019 - 12:54 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
  • Roger Lorton

    Are not all Falklanders equal? How so?

    I suspect that you will find the Islanders as divided on the issue of Brexit as the British have been. You do not trust the Tories? No more, I suspect, than I trust socialists. As for the Islands' development, I believe that is very much up to the Falklanders. I doubt that the Tories will have any specific policies regarding any of the BoT's other than to support their right of self-determination.

    As for arguments increasing...... that seems unlikely. Historically, the arguments have been far more prominent in the past than now.

    Dec 23rd, 2019 - 01:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • RedBaron

    Food will sell ----at a price which does not unreasonably exceed the market. That will be tough to sell lamb (especially) when there is enough in the UK (the Scots and Welsh are already worried after the additional duties are imposed - 17% or thereabouts) and the Kiwis have a long established trade and shipping route.
    As for the squid and toothfish - not so problematic - the Spanish and others will just have to pay more.

    Dec 23rd, 2019 - 03:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Roger Lorton

    That is the difference between us.

    I see a future of opportunity. You see a future of obstacles. ;-)

    Dec 23rd, 2019 - 11:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • DemonTree

    “I doubt that the Tories will have any specific policies regarding any of the BoT's other than to support their right of self-determination.”

    I think they will have a policy of maintaining the tax havens that let them hide their money abroad, leaving the rest of us pay for pensions and infrastructure.

    Corbyn was a bigger short-term threat to the Falklands, but Brexit is a much bigger long term threat. Up to you how much you care, though.

    Dec 23rd, 2019 - 11:14 pm - Link - Report abuse -2
  • RedBaron

    Roger - the difference could be more accurately translated as my realism and actual business experience of risk assessment compared with your unbridled and possibly fantasy based optimism (Boris).
    I truly hope there is a positive outcome for FIMCO and for the shipping business but Brexit will not make the future any easier and, while I have attempted to identify the weaknesses and threats, I don't see any suggestions for the path to opportunities apart from boundless fantasy and 'talking up the ante'.

    Dec 24th, 2019 - 09:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Roger Lorton

    Time will reveal all. .

    Dec 24th, 2019 - 12:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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