Comments by "Nigel Johnson" (@nigeljohnson9820) on "Catalan separatist leaders given 9 to 13 years in prison for sedition over 2017 independence bid" video.

How long before the EU copy this for daring to trigger article 50. The Catalans are trapped inside Spain with no way out.
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@berdaz just as the UK predates the EU, Catalonia predates Spain. In the case of Catalonia it is arguably who does the land belong too. There is no question that the EU has no claim to any of the UK, including NI. Both Spain and the EU are building an independence pressure cooker. I hope the UK is free of the EU before it blows.
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@berdaz there is a similar problem with brexit. The UK was independent of the EU for far longer than it has been a member and during the referendum the majority was in favour of leaving. This suggests those who feel strongly they want to remain in the EU should move there. The same may apply to the Catalans moving to Spain.
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@SantiagoS-mz4zz the question is what right the state has to stop them. Governments forget that they serve the people, not the other way round.
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@SantiagoS-mz4zz there is an element of hypocrisy in the EU position. It advocates Scotland break from the UK, but not Catalonia from Spain.
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@SantiagoS-mz4zz the same might apply to the Scottish Orkney and Shetland Islands, which could make a claim on owning oil reserves off the Scottish coast. Hypothetically the EU might allow an independent Scotland to join the EU, but only if it could bring these oil reserves with it. It might therefore chose not to recognise the independence claim of the Scottish islands, from the Scottish mainland.
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@SantiagoS-mz4zz the limit of independence is the ability to be self sufficient and economically viable.
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@SantiagoS-mz4zz the smallest independent sovereign state in Europe is Liechtenstein, which also has the highest GDP in Europe and a population of 38.5k approximately. The smallest independent states in the world have populations as small as 11k. Does that answer your question.
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@SantiagoS-mz4zz where is what registered?
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@SantiagoS-mz4zz in principle yes, however it would be necessary to analysis if its wealth is truly its own and not the result of its connection to the rest of the UK. One of the requirements is to be truly self sufficient. It is questionable if London meets that test.
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@SantiagoS-mz4zz is that not what Liechtenstein has done. I am not advocating such changes, I am just providing the test. A city is unlikely to meet the criteria of being truly self sufficient, but there are close examples, such as Monaco. Certainly regions could seek independence. For years now, some in California have suggested that it should secede from the US.
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