The Commonwealth: what are the benefits of membership?

ruggedtoast

vivatifosi wrote: »

* My parents, who had lived in Australia in the years prior, were furious when the UK joined the EEC as they felt that the UK had sold its natural trading partners: Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the then less wealthy Commonwealth states, down the river. Is there any benefit at all for the developed nations of being in the club or has their focus moved elsewhere - for example towards the Far East for Australia and NZ.

Just interested to know what you think.

The Australians continue to be upset about it, although it isn't immediately clear to me why, as Britain didn't withdraw from the Commonwealth when we joined the EU.

I can only assume the terms of the relationship changed, or what they hoped would come of it. Australians won't often admit it, but they sometimes feel quite ignored and peripheral on world events.

One Australian, when drunk (they are sober sometimes) said "You abandoned us!". I had no idea what he was talking about!

In hindsight I'm not sure how not joining the EU would have worked out worse than joining it anyway, so maybe they have a point. I know that a lot of the Forgotten Generation were pretty upset about it, though Boomers were too excited by Thatcherism to care much.

FTBFun

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

FTBFun - agreed, Britain's meddling, dishonest, shame!

I think we were stuck with Palestine (i'm referring to the geographical area) after the fall of the Ottoman Empire post WW1 really, more than our meddling as it were. Iraq as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partitioning_of_the_Ottoman_Empire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Mandate_of_Palestine

olly300

vivatifosi wrote: »

* Do Jamaicans have a greater right to visas or access to the UK as a result of being in the Commonwealth (compared to other non-Commonwealth Caribbean states);

In regards to Visas it doesn't make a lot of difference anymore as different countries are treated differently due to their economic status i.e. US citizens find it easier to come here than someone from Jamaica as they don't need visas.

What makes a difference is the fact that people from Britain's former colonies are more likely to have relations here than a person from a non-British colony.

This means they are more likely to have:
a. A legitimate reason to come to the UK
b. A relation who will sponsor them to come to the UK.

zagubov

FTBFun wrote: »

I think we were stuck with Palestine (i'm referring to the geographical area) after the fall of the Ottoman Empire post WW1 really, more than our meddling as it were. Iraq as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partitioning_of_the_Ottoman_Empire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Mandate_of_Palestine

Somebody once told me you could start travelling from a point in Burma only 60 miles from the Pacific Ocean travel West across Asia and then south through Africa and stand at its southern tip. Apart from Iran you'd have travelled every step on land Britain's administered or ruled.

I don't think Afghanistan wants to join, btw.

I gather Portugal's been our longest ally which was why so many British and Portugese colonies were neighbours and trading partners (Hong Kong/Macao, India/Goa/Ceylon, South Africa/Angola/Mozambique, Guyana/Brazil), so I'm not surprised they are interested in the Commonwealth;)