My wife's RC came today. It's been a long road - thanks to adopting sole Irish citizenship not as long, expensive and painful as some - but it's a relief all the same to know my wife's status here is pretty secure now. I would like to thank those who have helped - and a big thank you to KeithAngel especially.
Well done, and congratulations. I'm waiting for my 'Irish Citizenship' (grandparent) documents to come through the door any day now, so I have an alternative route, should I fail to improve on my curent road-sweeper job.
Congratulations certainly and I think it's disgusting that British citizenship had to be forfeited in order to achieve a happy ending. It rather shows the insidious nastiness of Blair and his cronies who accorded more rights under the Human Rights legislation to foreigners in our land than to those who hold citizenship.
Thank you. Someone's got to be a road sweeper. The job shouldn't be undervalued in my opinion. I bet you work harder than many in management, or many's a company chairman. Thank you. However, I must slightly disagree with you in your latest instalment of you customary Labour-bashing (sometimes merited, but not always). It's the British interpretation of European legislation, against the advice of Europe, against their own subjects that is the problem. It's not that 'foreigners in our land' (which you may class me as now) have too many rights - it's that the British don't have enough in comparison. For that disparity, sorry, I completely blame the Conservatives. Blair and his cronies were not in power in 2012, when the legislation was changed, and the rules tightened. You do remember who was Home Secretary then? It wasn't Jack Straw, or David Blunkett. It was Theresa May. So let's get it right.
Actually I rather think the decision wasn't taken by May at all but by her boss, the Grand Abuser of the honors system and Master of Cronyism, Mr SamCam. Blair was his idol - his claim to being the "heir to Blair" was not said in jest - and he would not have tinkered with something inherited that appeared to be working. But the original legislation is, I'm afraid, all Blair's. I do agree, however, that the Tories might have tried to change it but they may have felt that Clegg and Co would veto or made difficult any significant changes to the existing legislation. I am please to note that balance is to be restored with the proposed replacement of the EU's Human Rights Act by a British Bill of Rights.
Good to see you again Andy. Remind us all why you had to take this route, I'm of an age and cannot remember without trawling through your past postings
Hi Timmers, Watching the cricket, I hope? Well. A lot of it was because of the 18600 route, and I didn't want to return to full-time teaching in England, and I thought the system was unfair, and blady blady blah a lot of righteous anger etc. Ironically I've earned more than that in the last year through various means and slogged my guts out, so I could have done it the 'long' way. Renouncing British citizenship sped everything up. But the main thing is, my wife is here, we are a strong couple, she's happy, we'll be together until old age or the 192 ploughs into me. The reasons behind the pathway taken really don't matter much to us anymore.
Congratulations. My wife has had her Permanent RC for couple of years now. One more small hurdle for the daughter to get hers in 2 years and we will be sorted. Now they are moidering for a driving licence. ....
The Conservatives came to power in 2010. The legislation was passed in 2012. Was it the brainchild of Blair? Maybe or maybe not - I doubt he had all the inns and outs worked out, like the 18600 level. But the Conservatives would have enough time to change things, and they were not bound to just follow it. So of course it has to be regarded as Conservative legislation! The Clegg and Co veto - oh please, do you really believe that's a remote possibility? If the Lib Dems weren't strong enough to do anything on Education and Tuition fees, are you really saying that they would be effectual opposition on an issue that you don't know they were opposed to or not? Let's face it - you are (probably) just guessing, which I am too. Only I think my guesses are a bit more believable! The last one scares me. I'm worried that the only freedom left for the British will be the freedom to starve, but time will tell. Anyway, no point in debating politics here, I accept that this is a right-wing forum in all but name now, so please allow me two words contrary to the 'popular spirit': CORBYN 2019 May your God go with ye.
I was actually referring to the fact that the Blair Government decided that British Citizens were additionally EU Citizens when it came to the EU's Freedom of Movement rights and also that certain provisions of the EU Human Rights legislation applied only to non-British citizens living in the UK. That is completely different to modifying the entry visa requirements which had been so relaxed by the previous administration that hell-bent on rubbing the Conservatives' noses in multicultural diversity I am not sure of the significance of the year unless that is when the Labour Party is supposed to finally see sense and replace the aged Trot protest leader with someone who'll make the party a tad more electable. And that certainly isn't the gaff-prone Oily Smith who, incidentally, released a photo of his Battle Bus this morning with his picture emblazoned on its side showing him receiving some ... erm ... 'manual relief': And yours with you .
I assume you gave me the "creative" mark because you believe I've posted a doctored photograph. I can promise you I haven't as you will see from Oily's very own Twitter Page - #Owen2016
I personally prefer this version with its not-so-subtle reminder of one of Corbyn's two lies last week: "Ram-packed Bus"
A bus? No, it happened on a train, not a bus. I think Our Future Leader made it pretty clear what happened.
Sorry to burst your bubble but I'm pretty sure that Richard Branson has no political ambitions whatsoever!
Yes, I know it happened on a train. A not very crowded train. A train with a goodly number of empty seats. What the train wasn't, however, was "ram-packed". It's a meme and not to be taken literally. It's curious though ... Corbyn claimed he wanted two seats together so that he and his wife could sit together. Not only did the CCTV pictures show a number of pairs of unoccupied seats but none of them - and Virgin released a fair few - showed his wife. He is pictured as is his close protection and Seamus Milne, but his wife doesn't appear to be in the party at all. Surely not another lie from the man who promised a kinder, gentler, honest politics?!
A meme? Not to be taken literally? Really? Corbyn argues these seats were reserved so he couldn't sit in them. He made a mistake. I think it was clumsy; some bend it to downright lies. I must admit, I couldn't care less. It's a small thing made into a big thing. He should have said - "I have chosen to sit on the floor to show the realities that many commuters have to face". Because, let's face it, it is the reality in many cases, and nationalisation is the way ahead. This is the latest video from Virgin - see it yourself and you'll notice that there are no free seats in the important carriages.
I will be watching the cricket on channel 5 later, a new score record set by England, all is good especially given that Pakistan is number one in the world at the moment. "Alls well that end well" as they say, you know something is wrong with the system when people like your good self have to go to extremes to be with your loved one. All the hassle is behind you now, enjoy your life together
