Apr 14 - UKIP MEP Candidate for Gibraltar Calls for Return of Royal Marine Presence to Protect BGTW
Following a few weeks of its popularity rising in the polls, UKIP last week visited Gibraltar in an effort to launch their European Parliament election campaign, ahead of May’s voting day. Heading the campaign is former Tory Minister Neil Hamilton, who attributes his move to the UK Independence Party in 2002 to the decision to ‘start going straight’, following a number of turbulent years representing the Tories in Parliament.
The candidate presented to an almost empty room at the Eliott Hotel on Friday evening was Gawain Towler, a former UKIP Press Officer and small business owner. He pledged to bring a new wave of representation for Gibraltar in Brussels, insisting that he will ‘listen, speak, shout and cause as much hassle as possible’.
Commenting on the party, Mr. Hamilton said that the UK’s three main parties have become increasingly predictable and people are beginning to see that Parliament is out of touch. He added that the three parties are deeply wedded in their commitment to the EU, ‘which has deprived Parliament of its previous power’. He noted that UKIP is making a huge difference in appearing as an approachable and down to earth party, describing them as a ‘Peasant’s revolt; a reaction to the resentment which has built up over the last couple if decades about the relevant powerlessness of Parliament and the failure of the political class to represent the real interests of ordinary people.’
Mr. Towler is the party’s number three for the South West and Gibraltar region, following William Dartmouth and Julia Reid. He stated that there are only so many things that an MEP can do for Gibraltar, ‘their role is to bang the drum, is to ask questions of authority and to speak out loudly.’ He added that when it comes to the day-to-day business of Gibraltar, it’s not an MEP’s business, it’s Gibraltar’s. He went on to say that the same feelings are felt in Parliament, and the only institution that feels it should have a say on legislation for Gibraltar, is Brussels. Mr. Towler also spoke of the Spanish Partido Popular’s significance in Brussels insisting that ‘what they say matters’.
Mr. Towler proposed spending more time in Gibraltar if he were to pick up the seat, claiming that he would open an office here. Speaking on Spain’s actions he noted that they are trying to divert attention from the PP’s on-going scandal. He went on to say that what UKIP would like to do for Gibraltar is ‘place on the agenda the option of having a member of the House of Commons representing Gibraltar and speaking for Gibraltar’. He also spoke of the option of full independence for Gibraltar.
Commenting on the Royal Naval presence in Gibraltar, Mr. Towler proposed the return of a Royal Marine presence to Gibraltar. He touched upon the service’s rich history, which including a Gibraltar based unit from the 1700s to 1990. He noted that the Royal Marines could ‘provide the security to the people of Gibraltar’ during on-going Spanish incursions into BGTW. Mr. Towler also suggested that the marines could tackle the issue of smuggling within the Strait, taking away Spain’s ability to use smuggling as an excuse to not take Gibraltar seriously. The candidate went on to suggest that talks with Spain could be held on a more personal basis, through an MEP and one of his Spanish counterparts.
In the Polls
The UK press last week reported that the Conservative party is preparing for a thrashing in the European elections, with UKIP taking a 28% average, just three points behind Labour on 31% of the vote and ahead of the Tories who are at third place on 23%.
The statistics come from a recent poll carried out by Professor John Curtice of the University of Strathclyde. The party is heavily into its campaign, with rumours that a significant rise in seats for UKIP in the European Parliament, could lead that to the Conservatives falling short of another majority in next year’s General Election.
