Sep 23 - Full Support For Gibraltar At Labour Party Conference
The Chief Minister addressed the reception hosted by HM Government of Gibraltar yesterday at the annual Labour Party Conference being held in Brighton. The reception was so well attended that people had to listen to speeches from outside the venue at the Grand Hotel in Brighton. Attending with the Chief Minister were Government Ministers, Samantha Sacramento and Albert Isola.
In addition to the Chief Minister, the reception was also addressed by Lindsay Hoyle, MP Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and ex-Chairman of the All-Party British Gibraltar Group; Jim Dobbin MP, Chairman of the All-Party British Gibraltar Group; Claire Moody, the first placed candidate on the list for the South-West Region for the European Elections in May; and Emma Reynolds MP, the Shadow Minister for Europe. All spoke in support of Gibraltar and its people, and in particular in support of Gibraltarians' right of self- determination, and roundly condemned Spain for her bully tactics at the frontier in the past 2 months.
Earlier, Mr Picardo had an opportunity of meeting privately for half an hour with the Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP. Mr Picardo was able to bring Mr Miliband up to speed with recent developments and to exchange views on the reasons behind Spain's recent actions. Mr Miliband was also reassuringly clear in his support for Gibraltar's right to self-determination as well as the established position on the "double-lock" that a future Labour Government would never transfer the sovereignty of Gibraltar against the wishes of the Gibraltarians and would not even commence a process of sovereignty discussions or negotiations without the consent of Gibraltar.
Mr Picardo also had a chance to meet with Shadow Foreign Secretary Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP together with Shadow Europe Minister, the Hon Emma Reynolds MP. Ms Reynolds has informed the Chief Minister that she hopes to visit Gibraltar shortly to see for herself the manner in which Spain is abusing the frontier.
Unite the Union General Secretary, Len McCluskey, also attended the reception to show support for Gibraltar at this time of increased belligerence by Spain, and sent best wishes to Unite members on the Rock. He was accompanied by Kevin Coyne who has responsibility for the Gibraltar branch of Unite the Union.
Also present at the reception was Sarah Sackman, grandaughter of Solomon Seruya, who has recently been selected to be the Labour Candidate in the London constituency of Finchley, Baroness Thatcher's old seat.
The Chief Minister, Hon Fabian Picardo MP, said: "It was a pleasure to see to many friendly faces at the Gibraltar reception. The support for Gibraltar at the conference was tremendous at every level, from the rank and file right up to party leader Ed Miliband himself who was clear and forthright in his support. The Gibraltar Stand at the conference has been teeming with activity with ordinary members of the Labour Party wishing to pledge their support for Gibraltar and expressing an interest in visiting as tourists in solidarity. The reception was one of the best attended in recent years and reflects the depth of Gibraltar's support across the political parties in the UK."
