The Channel Islands

[RTFishall]

I understand that the Channel Islands are not part of the United Kingdom but are covered by it's "Protection". If so, what do they pay towards the current UK's military budget?

[heathfield]

Nothing!

[RTFishall]

heathfield, Thanks for the info, it's what I suspected. Another parasite on the UK tax payer!

[jake-the-peg]

I think after we left them to the Nazis in the last war they might argue that we still owe them!

[RTFishall]

jake, that opens a whole new can of worms. Like, where were the French? And I won't even mention America (prior 1941)!

[jake-the-peg]

But the channel Islands were not part of France in 1941 nor were they part of the US were they?

They were part of Great Britain we had a duty to defend them and we failed to do so.

As a consequence some Islanders went to slave labour camps and jews were deported to concentration camps.

I think there are a lot of good arguments about reform of the Channel Islands' tax arrangements but taking the defense tack is asking for trouble

[RTFishall]

Jake, I take your point. But they have certainly done well since by being part of Great Britain and not the United Kingdom. Still, I suppose being that close to the French deserves some compensation. lol

[New Judge]

One of the reasons they may have done quite well is that they rigorously control who comes and goes and who is allowed to reside there.

Asylum seekers, economic migrants without jobs, aircraft hijackers and the like need not apply. Nor need those with no visible means of support. Furthermore, the islands are not part of the EU.

You may or may not agree with some of these policies, but the residents of the islands have decided that that is what they want and they seem to have done rather nicely.

[RTFishall]

New Judge. If only the UK would follow that example as well! And, lets adopt their policy on defence spending while we are at it.
;)

[Mr Chipps]

RTF, they are not part of Great Britain. GB is the island that most of us inhabit (England, Wales and Scotland - so should Ireland be renamed Little Britain?). The Channel Islands are part of the British Isles.

[RTFishall]

Mr Chipps

Of course you are right. I guess my point was that they seem to enjoy the best of both worlds. All the benefits in many areas without any contribution. Still, when the International banking laws change, that might not remain so easy!