Three EU states gained Independence from Britain in the past century. All, coincidentally, are islands: Ireland, independent in 1922, Cyprus, independent in 1960, and Malta, independent in 1964. Here’s a quick THREAD.

It wasn’t easy at first but they learned to ‘stand on their own feet’ – despite patronising noises from England. Malta, in fact, even had a referendum a decade before independence in which 77% voted for full integration with the UK.

While in 1950, the Greek Cypriot Orthodox church organised a wildcat referendum in which 96% of Greek Cypriots them voted for unification with Greece.

Another thing the three islands have in common is that Britain held on to chunks of territory post-independence. Apart from NI, it held on to the three Treaty Ports of Lough Swilly, Berehaven and Queenstown, all relinquished in 1938.

In Malta, it held on to Fort Pembroke until 1977, when Mountbatten handed over control. In one pic, you can see him meeting Malta’s Gerry Adams doppelganger, and in the other with then President Anton Buttigieg.

In Cyprus, Britain still holds on to Akrotiri and Dhekelia, while the island is partitioned between the sovereign south and the Turkish-occupied north, nominally independent but without international recognition. In fairness to the British, this mess preceded them.

Finally, if you look closely, you may still find reminders of British rule in Ireland, Malta, Cyprus and Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus. ENDS.