In terms of Brexit involvement, the Commonwealth receives either a poor reception or none at all.
In yesterday’s Brexit Betrayal column, our editor wrote there is a stuchie* regarding the re-appointment of the current Secretary General (Baroness Scotland) who is considered not up to the job, is accused of favouritism and has apparently been colluding with some African member countries in order to preserve her job.
Our editor questions: “Isn’t the Commonwealth supposed to be one of our best assets during our non-EU trading negotiation”? Regarding the ‘best asset’ concept you may refer to UKIP policy stated in the party 2010 Manifesto:
‘UKIP will seek to establish a Commonwealth Free Trade Area (CFTA) with the 53 other Commonwealth countries. The Commonwealth Business Council estimates that a CFTA would accord for more than 20% of international trade and investment facilitating trade exchanges worth more than £1.8 trillion and direct foreign investment worth about £100 billion.
and in 2015 the party pointed out
Britain is not merely a European country but part of a Global Community, the Anglosphere. Beyond the EU and even the Commonwealth is a network of nations that share not only our language but our own Common Law, democratic traditions and global trading interests from India to the United States of America and New Zealand to the Caribbean.
Whether we remain ‘bosom friends’ with the EU or we finally Brexit under an Australian style No Trade deal (WTO), we shall be resuming our position which is precisely that which was obtained in 1940. On the final fall of France we stood alone, waiting as now, for the USA to become our best friend.
Then the Commonwealth (Empire in those days) was maimed, but Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand, etc. remained under threat but intact, and generously fully supported what was then known as the ‘mother country’ in her hour of need.
Our leaving the EU and rejoining the Commonwealth will, we hope, go some way to atoning for the wrong we did in ditching them and joining the Common Market. It should be remembered these people were often our kith and kin who were wounded or gave their lives.
The UK is now a fully independent sovereign island trading nation with global increased trade expectations, but these also come with responsibilities already inherited from the formation of the United Nations and the attendant Security Council, in which we have been allocated a permanent seat as we have regained position, so must the stature of the Commonwealth be enhanced.
The position of the USA as ‘best friend’ is to say the least dubious in that it seems to depend on the President. Security and safety are probably always in our two nations’ mutual interest, but can we depend on them politically? Who can forget Obama’s foray into the referendum campaign?
I believe (I`m not the only one – see remarks by Tory “big beast” Michael Ancram in his Daily Telegraph exposée where “he had been lied to for 40 years”) there is a deep down residual emotional ‘hang-up’ in the very psyche of US politicians and leaders of all parties, which dates back to their having been a colony of this country. This collective character defect passes from generation to generation and was exemplified when Mr Obama gave the game away in the lead up to the referendum, when he along with Camoron appeared at their press conference where he urged this nation to give up Brexit and REMAIN in the dead end of ‘The care home for elderly failed European nations’ – the EU.
I truly believe at the bottom of this vile advice was this suppurating sore that resulted in Obama`s concept that there was not room in his playground for two exclusive nations and the US`s exclusivity would be tarnished irretrievably.
I was out campaigning in the market place the day after this announcement and grassroots voters were aghast at the effrontery and implications of what this man had said. In the parameter of the referendum it was a catalyst moment when many realised we/they had been conned for years by their own elected politicians and other supposedly elite agencies who had adhered to their own agendas without consulting the electorate, and at the behest of the smarmy EU snake-oil salesmen (perhaps we were not sold snakes, but there was certainly a pup in the mix).
Whether it is aware of it or not or whether it even likes it, the UK is regaining global stature; re-engagement with the Commonwealth will enhance its position. Whatever the UK has voiced on the Commonwealth’s behalf up to now has been tinged with an EU shroud; now the voice can be clear and completely in their interest.
Earlier I referred to ‘duties’ associated with our permanent membership of the Security Council. One of the reasons the EU was so set on keeping us within its catchment area was it wished us to cede our seat to them as the bloc probably felt it would confer more ‘clout’ and would appear as a fully functioning ‘real’ nation, whereas with us gone, they are left at the permanent behest of the French who, along with us, were the only EU member country with that responsibility.
How galling it must be now for nations to have to go to the French to get the OK for any of their foreign policy initiatives – delicious really; it leaves the French as EU king pin and Germany having to pay for it!
* A person acting stupid/ stuck up. An object, action, or attitude that is dumb.
Commonwealth Day is the second Monday in March. It is about time there was a return to it being properly celebrated.
As a Jock, may I point out that a stushie (sic) is not nearly as bad as a stramash, och no 😉
Delighted to read an article in praise of the Commonwealth. I tried to get the Commonwealth front and centre of the BREXIT campaigns.
I would like to point out that we are not “rejoining the Commonwealth” as we have never left. And by the way, our Queen is the Head of the Commonwealth, not by right but by aclaimation.
Ireland could rejoin the Commonwealth as republics are now allowed as members. The Irish may well find being a part of the Commonwealth preferable to being a part of the EU: if only they understood.
The Commonwealth Games are known as “The Friendly Games”. We have the opportunity to show the world in Birmingham 2022. It is predicted to be the third largest multi-discipline event in the World.
The UK is ideally placed to be the hub around which all Commonwealth Nations thrive.
I remember, oh yes I remember Alan your efforts to get “something going” in the past and I think I was also of the opinion then, and I hope not now that it was virtually “just you and me”
Is there anybody, any organization actually making a coherent case for the Commonwealth, If so I would ask them to post a link on Independence daily?
Birmingham 2022 I agree is a wonderful opportunity to “show the world”, but please make it NEXT WEEK this nation cannot afford in my opinion not to nail this gigantic opportunity to go forward in tandem with Brexit, so that the new system OPERATES from 1st January 2021
Thank you Roger. Maybe a better description of “stuchie* would be “traitor”.
It is wonderful that we have the chance to rekindle much closer relationships with other of the British Commonwealth nations but the Kiwis cannot replant overnight mature orchards that they grubbed up on our signing up to the EEC. Things will take time – but, hopefully, not too much.
Almost overnight they lost their British market of frozen Lamb which was huge at that time.. We just dumped them and many others.No hint of apology ..No hint of an apology to our co founders of EFTA, and no hint of many other EU led .nastinesses….
All have left a seriously nasty taste.. I hope we can remedy it.
I agree with your comment T G S there`s a load of atoning to do
This needed to be said round about now because ‘we the people’ need to be thinking about the next steps so we get out properly, stay out and then, by going in the correct direction, keep up the momentum and people’s interest.
There is still much to do. We need to regroup.
There IS no standing still!
We need to ensure the direction we’re going is forward or our enemies will have us going backwards, possibly to even worse than before.
MANY THANKS ROGER, for a most acceptable item, standing upon truth. – In particular the last paragraph; – I had never looked at it that way before, but its accuracy is unarguable. – With many individual exceptions for genuine bravery, France has the standing that it enjoys today by being upon the British coat-tails in, and after WW2. ….. I would instance a public speech from DeGaule, upon an honour conveyed to Winston Churchill, – ”France owes Great Britain a debt that it will never be able to repay” ! ….. Today we have a very little guy called Macron, who is against Brexit and ‘Demands’ our fishing rights in our own waters ! – France, 2020 ! – Excuse me while I vomit ! – Thank God we are now out of the EU !
Thanks Mike for your generous reply,
I don`t know if you have realized we have part of our education in common..
Port Fore 1951-1953 under my Sunday name of George Turner – initials GRW