Dec 19 - GSD: Davis “Slap In Face” For Chief Minister
The GSD says it has taken time to digest both the comments made last week by David Davis, the UK's Brexit Minister and those made to the House of Lords committee by the Chief Minister.
The party says that it is firstly important to say that the comments by David Davis with respect to Gibraltar, and the fact that a separate agreement for Gibraltar in the Brexit settlement is not something that the UK will pursue is “disappointing but not unexpected.”
A statement continued: “It was never likely that the UK Government would further complicate an already very complex situation, a process which some are now saying could take ten years to complete, by seeking different terms for Gibraltar. This is why the GSD have consistently said it is important that we keep Gibraltar’s objectives simple and aligned where possible with those of the UK by ensuring our full inclusion in those agreements made by the UK both with the EU and beyond the EU. The most difficult challenge is likely to be as free a flow at the frontier as possible as this would be the opposite of what the UK Government has indicated it wants for its own borders, this should be the one area where we challenge and lobby for an alternate arrangement which takes into account our location.
“For the Chief Minister to suggest that his statement to the House of Lords and those of David Davis are aligned is to show how out of touch with the reality of the situation he has become and how he is still intent on pulling the wool over the eyes of our community. His Government's policy of pursuing peculiar and unique solutions for Gibraltar, all the while seeking publicity at every turn has failed, and has done our community a terrible disservice. Instead of seeking to work behind the scenes in an intelligent and diplomatic way he has been as loud as it is possible to be and the words of Mr Davis are clearly designed as a slap in the face to rein him in.”
Trevor Hammond, GSD spokesman for Europe said: “Despite these setbacks there is of course still time to achieve a satisfactory outcome for Gibraltar from the Brexit negotiations and we call on Government to stop pursuing ideas that are clearly not going to be acceptable to the UK and get down to finding realistic solutions for the potential problems our community will face”.
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