Gibraltar EU vote

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There are some curious parallels and affinities between Gibraltar and Northern Ireland and the political situations in both jurisdictions.

During World War 2 a great many Gibraltarians were evacuated to Northern Ireland and indeed the tallest building on `The Rock` is named Ballymena House. Gibraltar was also host to the controversial SAS shootings of an IRA gang. The UK Government recently lost a test case in the European Court of Human Rights and has been forced to grant Gibraltarians a vote in the UK electoral system. It had been mooted that Gibraltar would be merged with the Northern Ireland region for the European elections. However, the fiercely British Gibraltarians were in fact placed into the South West region of England. Curiously the South West Green Party also fielded candidates for Mebyon Kernow and the Gibraltar Reform Party. The election results make interesting reading.

GIBRALTAR RESULT

Conservative Party 8,297 (69.52%)
Labour Party 1,127 (9.44%)
Green Party 1,058 (8.7%)
Liberal Democrats 905 (7.58%)
UK Independent Party 140 (1.17%)
British National Party 105 (0.88%)
The Countryside Party 88 (0.74%)
Respect – The Unity Coalition 20 (0.17%)

– Electorate- 20,740
– Ballots – 11,934
– Turnout – 57.54%

SOUTH WEST REGION RESULT

Conservative 457,371
UK Independent Party 326,784
Liberal Democrat 265,619
Labour 209,908
Green Party 10,3821
British National Party 43,653
The Countryside Party 30,824
Respect – The Unity Coalition 10,437

CANDIDATES ELECTED IN THE SOUTH WEST

Neil Parish CON
Graham Booth UKIP
Graham Watson LD
Caroline Jackson CON
Glyn Ford LAB
Roger Knapman UKIP
Giles Chichester CON

I would also suspect that the following comments made by a Spanish Euro election hopeful will sound very familiar to some.

“Sr Rojas, a candidate for the Andalusian Party, said that although in the modern 21st century a colony within Europe was an unreasonable situation, a claim to the sovereignty of the land was not enough. “We must bring together the people of Gibraltar with the People of Andalusia.” He said.”

“The regional Government should forget its predisposed agenda and concentrate on granting socials services, cultural and health benefits to Gibraltar,” he said, emphasising that it was his manifesto commitment to realising these aims.”

The Rockall Times is also reporting that the UK will cede Gibraltar and Northern Ireland to Spain.

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