Giving a Shet
 

Tiny Shetland island declares independence
By Kate Kelland
Sat Jun 21, 12:19 PM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - The owner of a tiny island in off Scotland declared its independence from the United Kingdom on Saturday, saying he wanted the territory, population one, to be a crown dependency like the Channel Islands.

In a declaration on his Web site, Stuart Hill, who owns the 2.5 acre island of Forvik in the Shetland Islands in the North Sea, said he no longer recognised the authority of the government or the European Union, and cited a centuries-old royal marriage dowry deal as the basis for his claim.

"Forvik owes no allegiance to any United Kingdom government, central or local, and is not bound by any of its statutes," Hill wrote.

Hill, 65, has lived in the Shetland Islands on the edge of the Atlantic since 2001, when his boat capsized there during an unsuccessful attempted to circumnavigate Britain.

He is Forvik's only resident, and his home is a tent on the storm-battered island. He says on his website that he plans to create Forvik's own currency -- the "gulde" -- print his own stamps and raise his own flag.

"There will be no income tax, VAT (value added tax), council tax, corporation tax, or any of the other taxes instituted by the British government," Hill wrote.

Hill's claim dates back to a 15th century arrangement between the Norwegian King Christian and King James III of Scotland when the Shetland Islands were effectively pawned to King James in lieu of a marriage dowry.

According to Hill's studies of the history of the island, in 1669 King Charles II re-confirmed Shetland's status at the time of the pawning, meaning the islands remained directly answerable to the crown -- represented today by the Queen.

"The monarchs and governments of Scotland, and Great Britain and the United Kingdom have for many years assumed powers over these islands of Shetland to which they were not entitled," he wrote.

"By declaring Forvik a crown dependency I am simply re-establishing the correct legal relationship between this part of Shetland and the crown.

Hill said he had written to the Queen offering his services as "steward" and recognising her as head of state.

"I also invite anyone from any country in the world, who supports these aims, namely to become free of liars, thieves and tyrants in government, to become a citizen of Forvik," he added.

Good idea. I wonder if he's a lawyer?....or Barrister as (I believe) the Brits call them.

Tom W

There was another story like this IIRC he was/is setting up server farms to host activities that EU and US govs won't allow...like Napster. I think he's still in business.

Tent tax?

I'm in..........let's go.
















But, in reflection, the lack of a bathroom might cause some pause............:o

Why do you think they call it "Shet Land"?

Clearly...........because too many people gave a shet and didn't take it with them.

Gordon Brown has political problems. I anticipate a Maggie Thatcher Falklands-type response to this situation.

Ooh tax shelter! I'm in!:D

There are actually two precidents for this
 

There are two recent precidents for this. The first is the "nation" of Sealand, which was a naval platform built by the Royal Navy then abandoned. That is the place that as the server farms and off-shore banks. it was declared an indepent country under the Queen a few years ago. The other precident is the Isle of Man. This was always a crown dependency and not part of the UK, but recently a descendant of the last King of Manm has turned up annd has declared himself King of Man. Of course he acknowledges the Queen as his overlord. e says hat this goes back to the original agreement set up under Henry VIII (I think)

here are some web sites...

http://www.sealandgov.org/

http://www.royaltyofman.com/

Good luck to this guy... Maybe he can set up off shore banking or internet servers and make some $$

Maybe he needs me to go there and set them up for him :rolleyes:

I'm waiting for Possum Kingdom to declare independence..... :D

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/possum_kingdom/

That has possombilities.

Send foreign aid please.......


Cash only, no checks :D