Article 50 trigger 29th March

I don't quite understand why people are blaming Spain for the issues around the future of Gibralter. It was very obvious that a Brexit vote would cause problems there (which is presumably why they voted 96% remain) and for Northern Ireland.
I absolutely uphold the right of people to vote as they chose but I think that also comes with the responsibility of accepting the consequences of that vote.

Back to ignoring all durhamjens strange posts seems to be the best course to me.

We're not out of the EU yet, but thankfully it's all underway, and that is immensely cheering.
It's amusing that some posters who know nothing at all about Gib, have never been, and have never given it a thought for most of their lives, are suddenly experts, having presumably scrabbled around on the internet, and are now complaining about it being tax free etc etc.
Fortunately, the British Government has assured Gibraltar that thier wishes to continue being British will be continued and protected.

WW and Jen I agree the tax situation while expecting protection from the UK is very strange to say the least but I cannot see it changing as the people in power are those most likely to take advantage of anomalies.

Will read your link Jen to cheer me up!

Yes I read that yesterday. There is also an article today which wonders who the swivelled eyed loons will blame now they haven't the EU to fall back on every time something goes wrong.

Just to cheer you up, roses.

www.theguardian.com/politics/commentisfree/2017/apr/02/unhappy-ukippers-maybe-europe-wasnt-the-issue-brexit-article-50-david-mitchell

Too useful for the wealthy and big business. There are a lot of businesses with a nameplate in the Channel Islands.

That's exactly what Richard Murphy said in his taxresearch article, whitewave. As it is they have all the advantages of being part of the UK without paying taxes like the rest of us.

What about the other British tax havens? What happens to them when we've left the EU? The Channel Islands will be affected, but we don't hear anything much about them.

Ive been there rose dont you remember my opinion of it?

Perhaps one option would be to treat it as part of the UK tax geographical area, rather than a tax haven might help. They could then see themselves as fully paid up and grownup members of the UK.

Left wing and remain are not the same thing ninny

None of these arguments get any better do they. I imagine Gibraltar would seize the opportunity to stay in the EU and not be a Crown Dependency if they felt it served their purpose. That's what people do - vote for what they think is right for them and theirs (however wrong they may actually be).

So Gibraltar could go, Scotland could go, Northern Ireland could go - I sort of doubt Wales would go but you never know. All we then need is the north to want autonomy and then we will all have got our bit of the country back won't we.

Fortunately ninny any problems that Gibraltar has through Spain doing it's sabre rattling, will not be dealt with by JessM or anybody like her.I suspect that those who are so dissmissive of Gib have never been there.Not that you need to have been there to realise that it is an overseas dependency of ours, the people all want to stay British and Spain should wind it's neck in, as the saying goes.

What a nasty post JessM have you ever been to Gibraltar.
Some left wingers on here are so bitter and twisted unbelievable.

DJ I see what you mean by the second line of my earlier article. I'm not now sure myself what I meant! I guess I just meant "rude" rather than the strange "TM ride" that I clearly typed!

You are right of course ginny

I find it all utterly depressing. It would help if the whole bloody country wasnt falling to bits but we havent even got that to fall back on. Austerity seems to be lasting for ever with all the subsequent consequences. We desparately need a government who has a grip on things including the economy.

The right wing press is revelling in the division and adds fuel to the flame at every opportunity. With people like Banks and Bannon in the wings they need to be careful what they wish for, but that has never stopped the Daily Mail whose tendency has always been towards the fascist side of politics encouraging its readers through populist and divisive articles. In times of normality it matters little, but we arent in normal times and it worries me that May has chosen to lay her cap at Dacres door

I completely agree Ginny. I also agree with the poster who said that we are seeing the most extraordinary demonstration of cognitive dissonance in action.
The European press is reporting the jingoistic nonsense about Gibralter that is in some of the UK newspapers. It is not remotely helpful to the negotiations.

Ah yes, it's a low tax town. That's what they are so steamed up about. Plus a few tourist gimmicks - phone boxes etc.
Gibraltar a the size of a town - 2 sq miles and the population of about 30k. Similar sized to somewhere like Llanelli.
It's nowhere near big enough to have a decent hospital of its own - they'd have to have a high-tax system to manage that.
I assume they avail themselves of the Spanish system if they need any complicated care?
What on earth has Michael Howard been taking. What a ridiculous pronouncement!
I'm finding it ludicrous that there is so much fuss about this while we hear so little about the border between the Republic and NI. In comparison Gibraltar a fleabite. As far as I'm concerned the Spanish can have Gibraltar and if any of the residents are too upset they can come here. I'm sure we can absorb a few hundred more immigrants.

What I read on this thread reflects in microcosm what's happening out in the country. A divided population. An Untied Kingdom.(borrowed quote from the Guardian, but I like it.) My comments are not aimed at anyone here, but simply reflect on how things seem at this point.

It seems to me that some people in the country are behaving as if the EU has kicked the UK out of the club and we are expecting compensation, rather than the UK voted to leave with repercussions for all of us. I greatly dislike the prime minister’s high-handed attitude and how she says she speaks for the people of this country. The truth is Mrs May is speaking only for the people who voted Leave on the day. She doesn't speak in my name.

I voted Remain, but when faced with the inevitable, the Brexit deal I was hoping for was one where we are still in the single market, still have access to vital science funds, and still have access to numerous other important projects, e.g. the Erasmus scheme, and still have laws set by the European court of human rights. People accuse me of not loving my country. Not true. I just don’t want a UK shut off from Europe. With Scotland gone we will become a very small and insignificant country indeed.

I keep hearing that 'we are leaving the EU, but are still in Europe'. Well, to me that means we should still be respectful to our neighbours and allies and now we must wait to see how much they respect us. No one to blame but ourselves.

Trump is doing the same with China and North Korea, threatening before a meeting. Diplomacy appears to have taken a holiday.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/02/donald-trump-north-korea-china

Nothing to do with article 50, I know, but who do you think encouraged who?

Nothing wrong with Martin Odoni. Some people on here read his blogs, and his articles.
He writes for the Guardian.

Which is exactly the owl noise I just heard from the trees outside.

will leave to to it.

You know it was one of your favourite bloggers, it just wasn't good enough to have been a piece from say The Guardian or a serious news source.

No, it's another article about those idiots who are trying to start a war with the EU. They think they still have an empire to rule.
As you would know if you actually bothered to read the link. Is it too long for you?

A blogger by any chance?

Just seems like another anti British rant to me.