Forvik Off

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Stuart Hill in front of his temp admin block on the Island of Forvik

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Three cheers to the first of the British Isles to leave the European Union. Forvik (where?) declared its independence on Saturday. It is apparantly off out of the UK and the EU..

Stuart Hill, the owner of the tiny 2.5 acre island of Forvik, one of the most westerly of the Shetland Islands, announced the restoration of: ''its original legal status and reminded the people of all the Shetland Isles that the same status of independence was theirs by right.''

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."Forvik neither recognises the British government nor the European Union'' the press statement continued. The Island aspires to the same relationship with the UK as the crown dependencies of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands", he said.

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The press communication issued on Saturday morning continued: ''Shetland's relationship with the UK is based on the false assumption that it is part of Scotland, based on long-standing deception and subterfuge at the highest level. The Shetlands have never been part of Scotland, and nobody can even name the day when it is alleged to have joined. By declaring Forvik a crown dependency I am simply re-establishing the correct legal relationship between this part of Shetland and the crown. Shetland as a whole can get the same benefits and more - simply by asserting rights that already exist," he said.

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Forvik Island owner has stated that locals will not be subject to any taxes levied by the UK government. It will set down a claim to the sea and seabed up to a limit of 200 miles, or to the median line between it and other states, giving it control of fishing and oil reserves.It will become a tax haven with no income tax, VAT, council tax or corporation tax. The only tax would be a contribution by every citizen towards the cost of running the state, initially set at a level of one Forvik gulde per year - around £55 in today's money.

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In due course and some what toung in cheek the announcement confirms that Forvik will have its own currency, the 'gulde' backed by gold(though what gold is not clear) and issue its own postage stamps.

Later Mr Forvik will offer to register companies in a tax-free environment, which may eventually lead to the provision of offshore banking and financial services, which will clearly require substancial infrestructureon the remote and very rural Island.

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Stuart Hill's 'Declaration of Independence' includes an indictment against successive British governments, which can be viewed on the Island's website http://www.forvik.com/ .

Jolly good luck we say!

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