Gibraltar and Brexit

SIR – Rather oddly, Spain is reviving its claims to Gibraltar within the context of Brexit (report, November 21).

After Phoenician, Roman and Vandal rule, the Rock fell to the Moors in 711, taking its Arabic name, and was recaptured by Christian forces in 1462, coming under the Spanish crown in 1501. It was taken by the British in 1704 and finally ceded in 1713 at the Treaty of Utrecht. Thus Gibraltar has been under Moorish rule for more than 700 years, under the Spanish for only 203 years and under British sovereignty for 314 years. The 1967 referendum overwhelmingly confirmed the wish of the population to remain British.

Aside from a quirk of geography, the current Spanish claims seem ill-founded. Furthermore, any moral high ground is somewhat diminished by Spain’s continued occupation of Ceuta and Melilla, enclaves geographically within Morocco.

Maj Gen Martin Sinnatt (retd) Bordon, Hampshire

SIR – The Gibraltarians must be taking little comfort from the Prime Minister’s pledge to keep them aligned with the UK after Brexit.

After all, her promises to the British people to honour the referendum and to the DUP to keep Northern Ireland an integral part of the UK have not been kept. How many more broken promises must we experience before this Prime Minister is removed? Tom Jones

Warrington, Cheshire

SIR – Theresa May has told Parliament to back her deal or there will be no Brexit.

Unfortunately, if MPS do back her deal there will also be no Brexit. Graham Jones

Macclesfield, Cheshire

SIR – On Tuesday morning I attended the launch of Peter Lilley’s excellent report, which is entitled Fact Not Friction, hosted by Jacob Rees-mogg, the chairman of the European Research Group.

The fact is that we are not being told the truth about leaving the EU, with a Remain-orientated Government intent on staying as closely linked to the bloc as possible. Read the report, and you will find the inspiration and strength not to fear a no-deal departure.

The alternative is defeat, humiliation and no control over our destiny.

Richard Drax MP (Con)

London SW1

SIR – Those who mock the European Research Group by calling them Dad’s Army should remember that it was their spirit that prevailed.

Rev David J Addington

March, Cambridgeshire

SIR – Surely Captain Mainwaring and his men would have made a better job of ousting the Prime Minister than Jacob Rees-mogg and his allies. Derek Wellman

Lincoln

SIR – It appears that all politicians are working permanently on Brexit.

Who is running the country? Steve Pettett

Staplehurst, Kent