PM pledges commitment to Gibraltar in Brexit deal
LORD LIKENS PM’S RESOLVE TO THATCHER STAND ON FALKLANDS
FORMER Tory leader Lord Howard has suggested Theresa May would be prepared to go to war over Gibraltar as the Prime Minister vowed not to trade away the Rock’s sovereignty in the Brexit process.
The issue of Gibraltar was raised in the draft EU negotiating guidelines circulated by European Council president Donald Tusk, which indicated Madrid would be given a veto over the British overseas territory’s participation in a future deal.
The Prime Minister spoke to Gibraltar’s leader Fabian Picardo to tell him the UK remained “absolutely dedicated to working with Gibraltar for the best possible outcome on Brexit”.
While there was no mention of Spain’s claim to sovereignty in the EU document, the specific mention of a role for the Madrid government in deciding whether a trade deal would apply to the Rock has caused unease in Westminster.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said that in the call with chief minister Mr Picardo, Mrs May “reiterated our long-standing position that the UK remains steadfastly committed to our support for Gibraltar, its people and its economy”.
“The Prime Minister said we will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes, nor will we ever enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content. “The Prime Minister said we remain absolutely dedicated to working with Gibraltar for the best possible outcome on Brexit and will continue to involve them fully in the process.” Lord Howard, pictured below, compared the situation to the Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Islands. He told Sky News on Sunday: “Thirtyfive years ago, another woman prime minister sent a taskforce 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.” Opposition politicians condemned the comments from Lord Howard. Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: “It is unbelievable that within a week of triggering Article 50 there are Conservatives already discussing potential wars with our European neighbours.”