Brexit’s bad but the idea of going to war is even worse

THERE are valid concerns that one of the consequences of Brexit could be increased tensions with Spain over Gibraltar. However, I don’t believe Spain would be foolish enough to use this to prevent a trade deal with the UK.

The most recent figures show that in a year the UK imported £5.1 billion more in goods from Spain than it exported to the country and that UK residents made 13 million visits to Spain, spending £6.5 billion. These are vital sources of income for the struggling Spanish economy and something it cannot risk losing.

Recent interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria — albeit for very different reasons — have alienated the public against the idea of conflict. The admittedly unlikely scenario of military intervention over Gibraltar would make Theresa May unpopular even with Conservative voters.

While I am resigned to Brexit happening, I am sure many Leave voters would be outraged if Brexit meant us going to war with a fellow Nato member. That is definitely not what we voted for.

I USED to believe that Gibraltar’s sovereignty should be for its people to decide upon. However, with British and Spanish relations suffering perhaps now is the time for Britain and Gibraltar to at least consider joint sovereignty?

Spain has similar and real issues to deal with in Ceuta and Melilla, its enclaves in Morocco. However, any talk of war over the Rock is pure nonsense.

In these modern times the feelings of a combined 33,900 people cannot be allowed to interfere with the international relations of 151 million people, however undemocratic it may seem.

CEUTA, just 18 miles across the strait from Gibraltar, is a vital strategic foothold for Spain in Africa. Between them these two scions of respected democracies command important access to, and exit from, the western Mediterranean.

Is Spain ready to abandon her African colony, regardless of its people’s wishes?

WE HOPE and pray that Brexit will prove to be a huge success and silence all the sceptics but what if the unthinkable happens and things do go awry?

What if we are confronted with businesses going bust, mounting unemployment, rising prices, hospitals closing because of immigration controls and people being denied work permits?

I wonder which countries in this case would welcome millions of fleeing UK refugees desperately seeking a better way of life?