Response to Gibraltar comments ‘hysterical’ – Weston
FALKLANDS War veteran Simon Weston has defended controversial comments by former Tory leader Michael Howard which suggested Britain could go to war with Spain over Gibraltar.
The former Welsh Guard said that claims that Lord Howard crossed a line in his interview on Sky on Sunday were politically motivated.
Speaking on Ridge on Sunday, the former Tory leader and Home Secretary seemed to say that Spain’s bid for more influence over Gibraltar could lead to conflict.
He said: “Thirty-five years ago this week, another woman Prime Minister sent a task force halfway across the world to defend the freedom of another small group of British people against another Spanish-speaking country, and I’m absolutely certain that our current prime minister will show the same resolve in standing by the people of Gibraltar.”
The comment sparked outrage – and a few laughs – from political commentators across the UK and Europe.
But Mr Weston has said that Lord Howard’s comments weren’t out of order, even if he doesn’t agree with the Falklands comparison.
He said: “The issue with Gibraltar isn’t like the Falklands – there we had another country invading.
“But there is nothing wrong with what Michael Howard said, it wasn’t sabre rattling.
“All he said was Britain will protect the right of the people of Gibraltar, who remain British citizens.”
Mr Weston was aboard the RFA Sir Galahad when it was struck by Argentine Skyhawk fighters during the Bluff Cove air attacks on June 8, 1982.
The 55-year-old said: “I think a lot of the reactions is hysteria from people who didn’t want Brexit – both from the public and the media.
“But the public have spoken and we need to get on with it.”
Mr Weston said that the people of Gibraltar deserved to know that they were supported by the UK – just like the people of the Falklands had.
“The reality is Spain are a civilised country and the solutions will be political and legal,” he said.
“But their actions will be designed to probe for weakness, and we can’t show any.”
The draft Brexit negotiating guidelines published by the EU last Friday say that any decisions affecting Gibraltar must be approved by Spain.
The guidelines said: “After the United Kingdom leaves the Union, no agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom may apply to the territory of Gibraltar without the agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and the United Kingdom.”
But Gibraltar’s chief minister accused the EU of behaving like a “cuckolded husband who is taking it out on the children”.
Fabian Picardo said: “Gibraltar is not a bargaining chip in these negotiations. Gibraltar belongs to the Gibraltarians and we want to stay British.”
Spain’s foreign minister said his government was “surprised by the tone of comments coming out of Britain”.
“It seems someone is losing their cool,” Alfonso Dastis told a conference in Madrid.
But Theresa May was keen to downplay the incident, laughing when asked by reporters if she would rule out a war with Spain.
“What we are doing, with all EU countries in the EU is sitting down and talking to them,” she said.
“We’re going to be talking to them about getting the best possible deal for the UK and for those countries – Spain included.”
Mrs May said British policy on Gibraltar had not, and would not, change.