The HMS Queen Elizabeth, our newest aircraft carrier, has arrived in Gibraltar in advance of rotary (helicopter) air trials to commence off the coast of Spain. Fixed-wing air trials (involving the F-35) will commence this September.
What a magnificent set of pictures, and pregnant with symbolism. A British capital ship, a modern battleship of sorts, sails into one of our imperial possessions. Rah rah, Britons never never shall be slaves, etc etc. (further commentary below picture; scroll down)
Full pictures available here:
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/photos-hms-queen-elizabeth-hms-somerset-arrive-gibraltar/Despite the utter contempt for Britain that we observe dripping from every sarcastic, derisive comment emanating from Brussels and from some (but not all) Remainers, about us being a backwater, a joke, an irrelevance, because we had the temerity to choose to leave the European Union, it's worthwhile reminding ourselves how the UK, within Europe, is a uniquely global player.
We are one of only five permanent members of the UN Security Council, with veto powers over UNSC resolutions. We still have a global mini-empire, with possessions in the Caribbean (Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands), Gibraltar, the sovereign bases in Cyprus, Diego Garcia in the Pacific Ocean and the British Antarctic Territory which is 1.7 million square kilometers. We are one of only four powers that possess a 'Continuous At-Sea Deterrence' capability, with a RN nuclear submarine permanently on station, creeping silently in the deep awaiting orders to rain down dozens of nuclear warheads on any specified target set.
We are part of the global intelligence alliance between the Anglosphere democracies (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) that puts GCHQ at the very top table of intelligence capability. We also possess, in the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), possibly the world's most professional collector of HUMINT (human intelligence).
We have the City of London, which is the world's leading centre of finance and also for numerous industries like advertising, insurance and legal services (one of only two 'Alpha ++' global cities, alongside New York).
We have immense cultural soft power, not only because of English's ubiquity as the world language of business and science, but because of trusted institutions like the BBC World Service and the BBC, our music industry, television exports and musical theatre in the West End. Of the top 20 universities in the world, 17 are in the United States, 2 are in the UK and 1 in Switzerland (all outside the EU, I would note).
The UK leaving the EU is an immense step down for the EU in terms of global power, prestige and influence. I think it's vital that we maintain good relations with the EU and its member states, and it is in our interests that the remaining 27 states remain a strong and united bloc. But that doesn't mean I feel the need to denigrate the UK, or underestimate how much it will diminish the EU by us leaving.
The Britons are a fierce, proud race (I don't use that in an ethnic sense... I include in that everyone who is a UK citizen and committed to it), we should have confidence in ourselves and in our future, even if the next few years might be tough. And this isn't a right-wing or left-wing thing. I'm a socialist who can't stand UKIP, Trump and the alt-right. This is about having a sense of pride in, and commitment to, this great country.