The GSD says Theresa May’s announcement to trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2017 will be negotiated by the UK Government “brings into stark reality the urgency of action needed to counter the effects of BREXIT on Gibraltar”.

A spokesman for the GSD said: “Since the referendum, the Government has made various statements, from announcing that BREXIT is an existential threat to our economy, to the rather fanciful idea that we could somehow remain in the EU with Scotland, to stating that trade with and access to the UK market is far more important than to the EU single market. None of this inspires confidence in a 'Master Plan', which is what the Government says it is working on and, if it is, then there is cause for concern.

“One avenue that the GSD would urge the Government to pursue is that Gibraltar should be involved by the UK in all and any trade deals negotiated with the rest of the world. Such negotiations seem part of the UK’s strategy for the future. It is a strategy that Gibraltar will benefit from and should seek to be included in.

“It is already over three months since the referendum and we are only now arriving at the establishment of the Parliamentary Committee which will be debated this coming Friday. The GSD feels that this delay amounts to a wasted opportunity that could have brought all sides together to work towards the best possible solution for Gibraltar.

“The GSD has to assume from the Government's rhetoric, that it has already made its mind up on how it wishes to proceed, we will continue to strive to work with Government for what will hopefully be a satisfactory outcome from a BREXIT.

“The GSD of course accepts the Government's right to lead and make decisions, Government bears a heavy responsibility in this respect in what will be extremely testing times for our community. We look forward to being briefed through the Select Committee on precisely what the nature of the 'Master Plan' is.”

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