"It is totally unacceptable that when one lands in the United Kingdom, there is virtually no recognition that one has actually done so. No portrait of the Queen, no Royal Coat of Arms, no Union flag, or any other symbols which portray our great British identity. I believe when visitors arrive at UK Passport Control they should be left in no doubt they have arrived in a confident and proud British nation.
"The Queen's portrait should be prominently on display at every entry point to the UK without exception, alongside the Royal Coat of Arms, the Union flag, together with the flags of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales."
...
"The Queen sits at the heart of the respective constitutions of the 15 other realms and is intertwined into the very fabric of each of these nations too. Yet the people of these nations have no special status upon arrival at the UK border and are sadly treated without reverence.
"I propose a dedicated channel at international terminals for those from the Commonwealth realms, operating next to that for the UK, EU and EEA nationals so all of Her Majesty's subjects may enter the United Kingdom with appropriate decorum. Of course, all 16 flags of Her Majesty's realms should be displayed on the signs pointing to this new entry channel."
Defending he British Crown Commonwealth and the English-Speaking Realms
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice - G.K. Chesterton
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
About that renaissance of the Crown Commonwealth...
Andrew Rosindell should get a medal for this. British MP with cross-party support demands dedicated line for Commonwealth realms at UK entry points:
My word, this is amazing! This will string the realms together just that little bit tighter. Perhaps one day it will be hard to imagine a time when relations between the realms and UK were casual.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Rosindell is one of the Tory party's best assets.
ReplyDeleteThis proposal is so right and so natural that it would be absurd to oppose it.
We should move forward to full union as soon as possible.
And the Commonwealth realms should reciprocate the favour. It's galling that a Canadian or Australian has to line up as foreigners, while people from the EU get preferential access, as if the UK was merely a free access node for continentalists.
ReplyDeleteDamian Green appears to preparing to introduce a variant of this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/10/heathrow-fast-track-passport-heathrow
I would imagine that subsequently most of the Realms would be covered by this - have a look on the UK Home office website that deals with visas. There is a section that awards points to citizens from English-speaking countries. With the exception of the US, Trinidad and Dominica, I think they are just about all Realms. That suggests to me this is where this is headed, if it works.
A possible exception is Jamaica. I think the Jamaicans need a visa to even visit the UK - partly because of problems associated with illegal drugs.
More an Anglosphere initiative then (with few exceptions) than a Crown Commonwealth one. Still, moving in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteMr. Andrew Rosindell made a good delivery at last night's EU debate at St. Stephen's Club in London as well.
ReplyDeleteWhat Mr. Rosindell said in its entirety:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2012-07-11a.330.2
I really hope this comes to pass, just that there are so many republican politicians in every realm that will do their best to stop it - pity
ReplyDeleteMany thanks to the link provider. I have reprinted the Hansard debate in its entirety.
ReplyDelete