h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was just wondering whether or not people are aware of the situation over there at the moment and if so what the general feeling is about what Gibraltar's future should be.

I must admit my ignorance....but could you enlighten me?

They want independence.

I think that Gib should remain British, if that is the wish of the population, however, I suspect the British government will eventually throw the Gibraltarians to the Spanish whether they like it or not...

By the way, personally, I would have ordered the Royal Marines to keep going, not withdraw and if you want to know what I'm talking about see...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1827000/1827554.stm

Basically Gibraltar's been a British colony for the last three hundred years which has caused some problems between Britain and Spain due to the fact that the latter want sovereignty. At the moment the two countries are having discussions about the future of Gibraltar's status, without the consent or participation of the Gibraltarian people. A mass demonstration was held on Monday to give Blair the message that Gibraltar wants to retain it's status as a British dependant territory and that it is not, under any circumstances open to the suggestion of joint sovereignty. 25,000 people turned up to the march which, considering the population is only 30,000, pretty much speaks for itself.

They say a referendum will be held and that nothing will be done against the wishes of the Gibraltarians but we've been offered bribes along the lines of 35 million pounds towards the improvement of the local economy if we go along with whatever they decide. If Gibraltar doesn't then Britain will no longer offer her support when Spain harasses us. Democracy?

I have to agree - if that's what the people who live there want, then that's the way it should be. It's not as though they're being oppressed.

And if anyone has never been to Gibralter, it's not just a British Colony, it IS British, the population speak English, use Stirling as currency (by the way Ragazza, do you still have red pound notes?) and psychologically have nothing in common with the Spanish. It's a wonderful place and IMHO the people don't deserve to be sold down the river, but I suspect they will be.

I agree. What the people want is what they should get.

...and that's enterrr-taaain-munt...

Ahem.

I'm sure the people of Hong Kong would agree.
The point about using sterling is a bit disingenous though, as we edge ever closer to the Euro in Britain...

Another argument there, lol!

I think the point with the sterling is that we followed Britain rather than Spain despite the fact that in many ways it would be more convenient to use euros (but no we don't have pound notes)
Another point worth mentioning is that despite the fact that Spain refuse to relinquish their claim on Gibraltar, they also refuse to give up Ceuta and Melilla (two Spanish towns in Morocco). Slight case of double standards if you ask me...

Gibraltar is a British colony off the southern tip of Spain. It used to be Spanish and the Spanish want it back. The population of Gibralter would prefer to remain a British colony, but the UK government has done a deal with Spain on "dual soverignty". I think Gibralter's future should lie with the wishes of the Gibraltan people. I think the UK and Spanish governments are treating them badly.

Blueshark, I don't really get the impression that Britain is "edging closer to the euro". Do you know something I don't?

Nope, just reading the papers and watching Gordon Brown edging ever closer to leadership of the Labour party.

"I'm sure the people of Hong Kong would agree."

Ah, but the treaty giving the British the ownership of HK was time limited - it's not as if they didn't know the score. I'm pretty sure no such time limit applies to Gibraltar.

No, but what happened in HK was just as bad, most of the inhabitants, who had HK passports, were refused UK passports and thus were just abandonned by the British Government and given to the Chinese

Also, the treaty actually only covered Kowloon and the New territories, which actually only includes about 5% of the population of Hong Kong.

Anyone else noticed the double standards re the Falkland Islands. Another bunch of British people who don't want their sovereignty transfered to alternative Spanish speaking nation.

Sadly I think Gibralter is screwed, it no longer has any strategic importance. Its an embarrassment to the British government and its relationships within Europe. The case is going to be, "thanks for every thing in the past, now get lost."

both the British, and Spanish Goverments known that Gibraltarians want to remain British , and thar should be the end of the matter
Ithought The Foreign Offices claim that the referendum in Gibraltar was eccentric ,and that they would take no notice of it was disgraceful