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How Long Could The Uk Hold Out In The Face Of A French Port Blockade?
29 Answers
Nobody seems to have raised the issue of a long-term port blockade by French (& maybe Belgian) fishermen should they be banned from fishing in UK waters from next Jan 1st.
Such blockades have been 'successful' in the past in that the fishermen were given most of what they wanted & called off the action after a few days. I was caught up in one of these a few years ago and conditions around Calais were completely chaotic. Many years of living in France tell me that such action is probably already in the planning phase. Relatively small threats to people's standard of living frequently lead to action in 'the streets'. Here we have a threat to fishermen's ability 'to put bread on the table' & anyone who believes that serious action won't be taken just doesn't understand the issues.
There is also the question of 'acquired rights', which are taken much more seriously in France than in the UK. In many areas of life, having done something for many years enshrines such actions in some kind of 'holy writ', whatever the legalities.
Hence my question - Could the UK survive a blockade affecting a very large part of its economy for more than a week?; more than two weeks? I doubt if it could cope for more than a month, but if the fishermen's livelihoods have been taken away, they'll fight for as long as is needed. You can be sure that the 'gilets jaunes' would be on their side along with public opinion.
This is not a pleasant scenario.
Such blockades have been 'successful' in the past in that the fishermen were given most of what they wanted & called off the action after a few days. I was caught up in one of these a few years ago and conditions around Calais were completely chaotic. Many years of living in France tell me that such action is probably already in the planning phase. Relatively small threats to people's standard of living frequently lead to action in 'the streets'. Here we have a threat to fishermen's ability 'to put bread on the table' & anyone who believes that serious action won't be taken just doesn't understand the issues.
There is also the question of 'acquired rights', which are taken much more seriously in France than in the UK. In many areas of life, having done something for many years enshrines such actions in some kind of 'holy writ', whatever the legalities.
Hence my question - Could the UK survive a blockade affecting a very large part of its economy for more than a week?; more than two weeks? I doubt if it could cope for more than a month, but if the fishermen's livelihoods have been taken away, they'll fight for as long as is needed. You can be sure that the 'gilets jaunes' would be on their side along with public opinion.
This is not a pleasant scenario.
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Khandro - The way these blockades have worked in the past is that the fishing boats effectively seal off the harbour entrance. Only those vessels of which the fishermen approve can get in or out. Lorry-carrying ferries are blocked in the port and incoming vessels prevented from berthing. (The Channel Tunnel terminal is similarly blocked, but with vehicle barricades.)
// As it happens, I didn't get a vote, live (now) in Spain, and will not be much impacted by any mess in which the UK finds itself. Unfortunately, I'm appalled by the concept that the UK can go it alone in the world,//
Says it all really. Here we have another one who is already gone telling us what is best for us. Keep your nose out of our business then. Have the Englishman's salute to all who threaten us. What makes you think that you have the right to tell us what is good for us? You sound just like warden Hodges the jobsworth.
Meanwhile according to an ex Australian PM, “Britain has a historic destiny with the wider world and one of the downsides of joining Europe was a certain amount of Britain turning its back on the wider world and I think now that can change. Britain can now continue to engage fully in Europe but no longer as a member of the EU and engage with the wider world.”
"As Churchill said, 'What sort of a people do they think we are?
Says it all really. Here we have another one who is already gone telling us what is best for us. Keep your nose out of our business then. Have the Englishman's salute to all who threaten us. What makes you think that you have the right to tell us what is good for us? You sound just like warden Hodges the jobsworth.
Meanwhile according to an ex Australian PM, “Britain has a historic destiny with the wider world and one of the downsides of joining Europe was a certain amount of Britain turning its back on the wider world and I think now that can change. Britain can now continue to engage fully in Europe but no longer as a member of the EU and engage with the wider world.”
"As Churchill said, 'What sort of a people do they think we are?
Do you think these fishermen can block the ports like Rotterdam & Hamburg? Anyway if you just mean Calais two can play that game if the UK stops French vessels entering, the French farmers & producers of goods will not be very happy.
But what it is important to understand is that French fishermen are not being barred from UK waters on 1st of January, from the outset the UK's generous offer has been for a three year period during which the catch will be negotiated, the point being that the UK will be rightfully in control of it's own coastal waters.
But what it is important to understand is that French fishermen are not being barred from UK waters on 1st of January, from the outset the UK's generous offer has been for a three year period during which the catch will be negotiated, the point being that the UK will be rightfully in control of it's own coastal waters.
Togo - I'm a British citizen who worked hard in the UK for many years and paid plenty in taxes. Like hundreds of thousands of retired Brits I now live in Spain. Perhaps your version of society would deny people the right of free speech but I believe that my opinion is as good as anyone's. I consider your post as a thoroughly abhorrent personal attack but it's what might be expected from some people and does your opinions little credit.
satprof: After 4 years of this stuff tempers are getting a wee bit torn, I don't think T means to be overtly offensive. I'm not saying this to you directly, but a lot of people on the remain side can appear to be actually hoping for Brexit to go awry, when pro or con, everyone should surely be working for a good outcome for the UK.
No sense of irony, but an acute awareness of your, but no one else's opinion is the hallmark of the EUSSR zealots. We voted out because of people just like you, and now it is our fault. We are tired of the false concern opinions that are but a cloak of deceit for an agenda that is designed to subjugate a Nation that, by any even handed scrutiny, deserves more than most to be free. Having earned it with our blood and tears shed mainly keeping the Nations that now crave our submission from slaughtering each other. Next time we will not be so naïve and will let them destroy each other. If you could would you please persuade as many people as possible, who think like you, to join you out there in the EUSSR, in what is looking more and more like a doomed project.
Like many others, I'm concerned for the future of my UK-based children & grand-children and I am seriously concerned for the future well-being of the UK. IMHO, the vote went for a bird in a bush rather than the bird in hand.
Opinion is, indeed, divided. History will be a fairly impartial judge but the next few weeks may provide a good indication of how the whole Brexit project may be ultimately be seen historically.
Opinion is, indeed, divided. History will be a fairly impartial judge but the next few weeks may provide a good indication of how the whole Brexit project may be ultimately be seen historically.
// I'm concerned for the future of my UK-based children & grand-children and I am seriously concerned for the future well-being of the UK. //
Oh dear how very noble. So concerned that you have been out of the country for nigh on 30 years and likely have no daily contact or any practical aid to offer any of them. You are now using children to burnish a false premise of concern, that is in fact no than more empty rhetoric and further advertisement of your self regard and self appointed superior judgement. Shush. You are bought and paid for by the globalist organisations that regard the ordinary citizen as no more than a human zoo to provide an easy living for yourself.
Guess who said this and allegedly paid tax here and feels entitled to lecture us on morals?
I lived 27 years in France (on a permanent basis) ... In the end, I retired to Spain as we'd had enough & it's much cheaper over here. 18/10/2019
Then ...
I worked for WHO all over the world ... 13/07/2020
Then ...
I'm a British citizen who worked hard in the UK for many years and paid plenty in taxes. Like hundreds of thousands of retired Brits I now live in Spain.
19/12/2020.
Then tell Spain what to do.
Oh dear how very noble. So concerned that you have been out of the country for nigh on 30 years and likely have no daily contact or any practical aid to offer any of them. You are now using children to burnish a false premise of concern, that is in fact no than more empty rhetoric and further advertisement of your self regard and self appointed superior judgement. Shush. You are bought and paid for by the globalist organisations that regard the ordinary citizen as no more than a human zoo to provide an easy living for yourself.
Guess who said this and allegedly paid tax here and feels entitled to lecture us on morals?
I lived 27 years in France (on a permanent basis) ... In the end, I retired to Spain as we'd had enough & it's much cheaper over here. 18/10/2019
Then ...
I worked for WHO all over the world ... 13/07/2020
Then ...
I'm a British citizen who worked hard in the UK for many years and paid plenty in taxes. Like hundreds of thousands of retired Brits I now live in Spain.
19/12/2020.
Then tell Spain what to do.
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