By Mark Montegriffo

One of a ‘Socialist’ inclination would be hard pressed to find many things in common with David Cameron, except perhaps the desire to vote IN next Thursday. The Etonian beneficiary of Panamanian tax avoidance has overseen a Government dedicated to an economic policy of austerity, slashing vital public services while Google receives a ‘sweetheart deal’. Indeed, stalwart Labour lefty Dennis Skinner coined the phrase ‘dodgy Dave’ around the time that these findings were made public. However, in his visit to Gibraltar (led by a self-described Socialist party in alliance with Liberals) the Prime Minister will speak to a supportive and patriotic crowd about the case to Remain in Europe.

This seems, at least at a glance, as an incredibly spontaneous, random, and needless visit. Gibraltar is set to vote overwhelmingly in favour of remaining in Europe and so a cost/benefit analysis of a trip would hardly be worth it - unless he makes a trip down to the beach, one supposes. But actually this is a chance to set a few things straight, though whether these chances will be taken is another consideration.

David Cameron has backed himself into a corner on a number of issues. His inability to lead the Conservative Party and the mainstream British Right generally has resulted in the call for a referendum in the first place. He has alienated a significant portion of EU representatives, as well as many referendum voters who will vote for a Brexit, influenced by his spats with Tusk et al.

Cameron’s run-ins with Gibraltar should also be noted. His stance on tax havens was partly undermined when several reports - except for the ones directed by Spanish right-wing media outlets - have cleared Gibraltar of this image. This is especially rich when he himself was found to have benefitted from such murky finance. Furthermore, at a time when Gibraltar is faced with the risk of heightening frontier tensions as a potential result of a Brexit, the Rock requires strong international relations to ride the stormy waters and undoubtedly so when her Chief Minister has bashed the UN and the Chair of the committee on decolonisation. If the United Nations is rubbed wrong the way and we are forced to leave Europe (and if the Spanish nationalists maintain their influence) David Cameron must be scrutinised at some level for his handling of the Gibraltar issue, albeit so should the Government of Gibraltar itself.

Of course, it is a momentous occasion when a Prime Minister visits. But after the referendum is over and the patriotic glamour gives way to rational reflection, Gibraltar will re-assess the last few years and see that Cameron has a lot to answer for. The pomp and pageantry of a Casemates rally will only be a temporary escape for the questions that will lie ahead for the Rock. One of them might be a choice between a post-Brexit Britain or a European Gibraltar.

Mark is currently studying philosophy and politics at the University of Manchester

Editor's note: This article was posted before the Casemates rally was cancelled following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox.