Contributions to UK for Defence

[Zarley]

7 minutes ago, Non-Believer said:

With Russia currently massing troops and armour on its border with Ukraine (having only recently annexed Crimea as well) and Britain hastily despatching troops to the region to shore up NATO defences, I don't think offering to whore our territory out to Putin would gain much traction with the FCO somehow?

Very true. Don't think China having a military presence here would be anyone's idea of a good time either.

And as for the USA... with Trump's continuing stranglehold over the Republican party, any sort of American military base here would be insanity. Come to think of it, it would be insanity not just because of the Trumpublicans, but also because of the general instability of American society these past five or six years.

We've got enough on our plate as it is with our close ties to #LiarJohnson and (what allegedly passes for) his government.

[Max Power]

1 hour ago, John Wright said:

Why would people from Port St Mary, Port Erin, Colby, Ballakilpheric, The Level, Croit e Caley, Surby, Fleshwick, Earystane and Ronague want a Naval Base?

Think of the tourism boost for the pubs and fine dining!

[2112]

14 minutes ago, Max Power said:

Think of the tourism boost for the pubs and fine dining!

Not forgetting bed nights

[John Wright]

1 hour ago, Non-Believer said:

With Russia currently massing troops and armour on its border with Ukraine (having only recently annexed Crimea as well) and Britain hastily despatching troops to the region to shore up NATO defences, I don't think offering to whore our territory out to Putin would gain much traction with the FCO somehow?

 

1 hour ago, Zarley said:

Very true. Don't think China having a military presence here would be anyone's idea of a good time either.

And as for the USA... with Trump's continuing stranglehold over the Republican party, any sort of American military base here would be insanity. Come to think of it, it would be insanity not just because of the Trumpublicans, but also because of the general instability of American society these past five or six years.

We've got enough on our plate as it is with our close ties to #LiarJohnson and (what allegedly passes for) his government.

You’ll note I used the past tense. It’s not unprecedented. Don Mintoff did a deal with Libya after Britain withdrew its naval forces. That brought subsidy and beneficial arrangements and money, from US, Italy and even UK, and eased the way of Malta from non aligned into the EU, although still non aligned militarily.

[pongo]

12 minutes ago, John Wright said:

Don Mintoff did a deal with Libya after Britain withdrew its naval forces

Dom  

An era which most in Malta remember for authoritarianism and political violence.

[A fool and his money.....]

6 hours ago, John Wright said:

Perhaps it was negotiated on the basis of use of diplomatic services, far more Manxies have needed bailing out abroad than the more genteel/refined Jerrais, Guerns or Aurignans?

Or maybe it was done on a nudge nudge basis with UK reminding IoMG of what happened to the CI last time they didn’t pay their fair share.

Ive often thought we missed the boat by not leasing ourselves out to the highest tender from the likes of USA/Russia/China as a military/naval/air base

Perhaps the CI's pay less because they've had first hand experience of being "defended" by the UK so know the quality of the service they are likely to receive, ie don't bother defending them at all, ignore the fact that they are occupied by the Nazis for 5 years and then claim to have "liberated" them after the enemy has already surrendered.

I know you're only joking, but military base is a bad idea, best we maintain our peaceful nature, we're very lucky to have it and certainly shouldn't be encouraging the war mongering of our near neighbours or anyone else in the world.

[2112]

Perhaps our contribution enables our politicos to get a seat on a RAF flight to the Falklands. Remember Mr Squeaker went to the Falklands a few years ago, I am not sure whether it was the trip where he claimed for paracetamol tablets?

[finlo]

3 minutes ago, 2112 said:

Perhaps our contribution enables our politicos to get a seat on a RAF flight to the Falklands. Remember Mr Squeaker went to the Falklands a few years ago, I am not sure whether it was the trip where he claimed for paracetamol tablets?

And sun cream in the Falklands?

[2112]

1 minute ago, finlo said:

And sun cream in the Falklands?

I’m sure they get the sun …………….. like here.

[Zarley]

14 hours ago, pongo said:

Dom  

An era which most in Malta remember for authoritarianism and political violence.

It seems Dom was a bit of a philanderer.

[Andy Onchan]

18 hours ago, quilp said:

Olé! 

Qué?

[Roger Mexico]

I see the Celtic League has now (inevitably) joined in on this, but it's worth pointing out that this situation has been going on for literally hundreds of years.  According to Moore's 1900 History of the Island, when discussing the endless rows between the Atholls and the Keys post-Revestment, the Duke was still demanding:

payment of herrings and carriage of turf, formerly contributed by the fishermen and tenants respectively for the use of the garrisons and the civil officers, which, though both the garrisons and the officers ceased to be his family's in 1765, he claimed as due to him

which suggests payment for defence predates 1765.   And it is clear that payments for defence were made to the British government from then on:

the Keys, who, in 1798, when sending their subscription towards the national defence, took the opportunity of protesting against " an influence equally unjust and impolitic, which unfortunately for their country "

(because the Duke had been appointed Governor of the Island).

Jersey on the other hand was always directly under the control of the British monarch (or rather Britain was under the control of the Duke of Normandy) and was always garrisoned directly by the Duke.  Unlike the Isle of Man it also provided for its own defence from its own resources:

Formed in 1337, the Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey can claim to be the oldest sub-unit of the British Army.

So what we are looking at here is very ancient traditions that have led to the current situation, where the Isle of Man pays more.  Of course, as I pointed out above, if either Island makes a fuss about what it is currently paying, there's nothing to stop the UK deciding a fairer way of paying for defence etc might be an amount more in line with what British citizens in the UK have to pay per capita. 

[pongo]

59 minutes ago, Roger Mexico said:

I see the Celtic League has now (inevitably) joined in on this

Is the Celtic League even real? How many chairs would they need if they held a mass meetup?

[finlo]

3 minutes ago, pongo said:

Is the Celtic League even real? How many chairs would they need if they held a mass meetup?

 

[pongo]

10 minutes ago, offshoremanxman said:

Plus let’s not forget as crown protectorates in WW2 Britain basically left Jersey and Guernsey to be occupied by German forces. Paying for UK protection has been a bit of a touchy subject down there ever since. No doubt another reason why they got a better deal than us. 

More likely, nothing to do with it.

In 1940 Britain was not in a position to do anything about the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands. And let's not forget that many thought that Britain stood no chance and should make peace (whilst others leaned towards supporting the Nazis because they so hated London).