I concur with the spirit of Professor Flint's post over at ACM, and thank him for reminding us that second reading of this very important private members bill, sponsored by MP Andrew Rosindell, will be read in the British House of Commons on the first of March. I have been in personal contact with Mr. Rosindell, and have commended him on his bill.
It is indeed a constitutional travesty and injustice that subjects of Her Majesty's realms are not treated with appropriate decorum when they enter the UK (even Britons don't have a dedicated channel), and are treated as second class subjects. Imagine an ageing war veteran, who fought to defend England during the darkest days of the Second World War, lining up in the "foreigner's line", while EU citizens, who may have fought against the very country in which they are entering, are treated with special reverence. Bloody hell.
What this bill will also do, if it is successful, is demonstrate the value of collective allegiance and show republicans that if they become a republic they will be treated as foreigners. It will show the citizens of the Crown Commonwealth the value of their collective identity, that it actually means something and that it can be made to confer some benefit, most especially if the arrangement is mutually reciprocated by all sixteen realms.
God speed to Andrew Rosindell on March the first!
As a British Citizen, I support this 100%.
ReplyDeleteThere are definitely arguments against many of the bill's features in terms of managerial efficiency at entry points, but these should be over-ruled politically. Diplomatic influence is only intangiably accountable and the benefits are clear. By a simple reorgansiation, we show the realms that they are important to us and we demonstrate the same to the EU.
The example of war vetrans is a sorry one, but we must also recognise that this is a modern idea. There is a healthy two-way (multi-way) exchange of young people on curiosity trips and business people investing large sums in our respective countries.
Good to hear. As Mr. Rosindell has stated, the annual traffic into Britain from the Commonwealth realms is only about 2.5m per year, versus some 40m from the much closer EU. However, I suspect the queu times would be similar as Britons will be far more likely to enter through the "Queen's door" and eschew the EU line altogether. Thus the resources to fund the new corridor would come from the existing EU one
ReplyDeleteDoes any one know how it went?
ReplyDeleteI do not know yet, but I am desperately trying to find out.
ReplyDeleteHere's what I found on the UK Parliament site:
ReplyDelete"The Bill was not moved for debate on 1 March 2013. The order to read the Bill a second time lapsed. There is no indication when the Bill will progress further.
The Bill had its first reading on 11 July 2012 under the ten minute rule procedure.
If you require any further information about the Bill then please contact the sponsor Andrew Rosindell."
Will have to wait and see. Too bad it did not move - these bills move at a snail's pace. Luckily this parliament is only about half-way through its term, so there is still enough time to get it through. Fingers X
I should also point out that should it proceed past second reading (it is usual for the House to debate the Bill at this stage, but is not necessary if MPs vote for it to proceed) it will go to the Committee stage where each section will be deliberated fully. Thankfully, the Bill is so short that this should not be too arduous a task, but it is still a very long way from Royal Assent. I think it needs to get through the Commons this year if it has a hope of getting through.
ReplyDeleteYou will find the current status of United Kingdom Borders Bill 2012-13 here - http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2012-13/unitedkingdomborders.html
ReplyDelete