Sep 13 – UK MPs Express Support For Gibraltar
There was a mixed reaction to visiting MPs at the National Day political rally, with cheers for those in favour of remaining in the EU while those who supported the leave campaign were booed, however there was an underlying message of support for Gibraltar.
There were 21 MPs and MEPs who were invited to join in this year’s National Day celebrations which was overshadowed by the Brexit result in the EU Referendum.
Jack Lopresti, the Conservative MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, and Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Gibraltar, stood up to speak at the political rally.
Mr Lopresti, a staunch Brexiteer, said it is a privilege to be in Gibraltar, however the audience heckled him through the rest of his speech.
He said: “I know these are unsettling times for Gibraltar, I understand how you feel about the referendum and the Brexit result.
“I am unashamedly here to say that I supported Brexit, and I think we need to now seize the opportunity. Gibraltar and the UK have always been globally-thinking, outward-looking, free-trading British and sovereign.
“So what I say is let us put our differences about the referendum behind us, let us work together and let us seize the opportunity because I believe the great British family of Gibraltar and Britain can make the most of this and our best days together are yet to come.”
Speaking to YGTV at the SDGG reception held at Grand Battery House after the political rally, a number of UK MPs expressed their support for the people and the Government of Gibraltar.
Former Liberal Democrat MP, Lord David Chidgey, and Vice Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Gibraltar, who represented the Eastleigh constituency while in the House of Commons, reaffirmed the message that his party would hold the Tory Government to account when it comes to the UK’s commitment to Gibraltar.
When speaking to YGTV, Lord Chidgey said that by putting themselves out there, liaising with others and holding discussions, the Gibraltar Government was in a far better position to deal with Brexit than even the British Government.
He said: “I’ve been coming to Gibraltar for National Day for the past 10 years, and I think this particular National Day it became loud and clear that the people of Gibraltar are absolutely resonant in their determination to continue to control their own destiny.
“Brexit has fired them up and as the Chief Minister said – it’s our decision, we’ve decided to be British, it is our future and our decision – and I think it became very clear to me.
“The message to the British Parliament was made very clear – if Brexit means Brexit, British means British.”
“If you look at the political history of Gibraltar, since Franco’s time, there’s been a huge obstacle but the people of Gibraltar have found a way around it,” Lord Chidgey added. “I think this will be, as the Chief Minister said, exactly the same. Nothing daunts the people of Gibraltar.”
Alec Shelbrooke, Tory MP for Elmet and Rothwell, said: “This National Day is one of the most important National Days from the UK contingent, especially as it’s an uncertain time.
“I think the people of Gibraltar need to recognise that the UK Government will not do anything without including the people of Gibraltar.
“I think what today is about, from the UK delegation, is about saying to everyone that we stand with you shoulder to shoulder.”
Labour MP for Leeds North East, Fabian Hamilton, returned to Gibraltar to celebrate National Day after eight years.
The former Shadow Minister for Europe wanted to reassure Gibraltarians that the era of Tony Blair, Jack Straw and Peter Hain is in the past, and hopes that Gibraltarians will forgive the Labour Party who were in Government at the time for that aberration.
When asked whether Gibraltar will see a strong commitment from Jeremy Corbyn’s administration if Labour were to come to power, Mr Hamilton added: “The thing you have to remember is Jeremy Corbyn has always been a champion of people’s right to self-determination.”
Matthijs Van Miltenburg, an MEP for the Netherlands, said he was in Gibraltar on a fact-finding mission with regards to the dispute with Spain blocking Gibraltar’s access to the Single European Sky and halting air passenger rights.
The member of the EU’s transport committee said: “A lot of things we want to discuss in Parliament such as the Single European Sky or air passenger rights is blocked. I don’t want to make a comment on the issue of Gibraltar, but it is unacceptable in Europe that this type of dispute will block all negotiations.
“In the end, the air passengers and the environment will suffer because we can’t have a Single European Sky or air passenger rights.”
He added that the Brexit outcome will complicate the issue further, adding that although the Brexit outcome for the UK was a disappointment for many across Europe, he dismissed the idea of Nexit happening, adding that it was just a small populist party who are fighting to leave the European Union.
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