Angela Watkinson

Conservative Party | Upminster

Gibraltar

What follows are extracts from an interview broadcast on Gibraltar Radio.

Gibraltar

I have never been to Gibraltar, so I am very much looking forward to being on the Rock for National Day that I know is always celebrated with great enthusiasm. I was disappointed not to be able to come last year because my diary was full, so this year I made sure it was free. I have heard from many friends what an attractive tourist destination Gibraltar is.

Although I have never visited Gibraltar, it is nevertheless a subject I feel very strongly about. Like many Members of Parliament, I believe that it is for the Gibraltarians to decide whether they wish the sovereignty of the Rock to be British or Spanish. It is the inalienable right of the Gibraltarians to determine their own political future. It is certainly not in the gift of the British government, to use as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Spanish Government. This is what led me to ask Parliamentary Questions about the Gibraltar problem.

Contradiction

The Foreign Secretary's views on Gibraltar are in direct contradiction with one another. Jack Straw has said repeatedly in the House of Commons that the sovereignty of Gibraltar rests in the hands of the Gibraltarians and can only be determined in a future referendum. Yet at the same time, an Agreement with the Spanish Government on joint sovereignty remains on the negotiating table. Gibraltar's many friends in Parliament must continue to press HMG to abandon this Joint Sovereignty Agreement. That Agreement can have no credibility when the Prime Minister has said on several occasions, in the House, that the issue of sovereignty rests with the Gibraltarians and that Gibraltar will remain British for as long as they wish it to remain so.

Michael Ancram

The Shadow Foreign Secretary, Michael Ancram clearly set out the Conservative Party policy in his speech to the Conservative Friends of Gibraltar. He stated unequivocally that the next Conservative Government would not be bound by any agreement between the current British and Spanish governments that did not have the freely given consent of the people of Gibraltar in their right to decide on sovereignty and with which the Conservative Party, in Opposition, had openly and clearly disagreed. The Conservative Party will support the Gibraltarians in whatever future they choose. If remaining British and keeping British sovereignty is what they want, then that is what we will support. Michael also said that the Conservative Party would not be bound by any agreement arrived at by the two governments.

Joint Sovereignty

The concept of joint sovereignty is preposterous. All the arguments have been well aired in the Gibraltar and British press over a considerable period. Nothing has changed. The fact that the result of the November Referendum was 99% in favour of retaining British sovereignty says it all. It is quite remarkable that the turnout was 88%.

Sir Emyr Jones Parry

I am surprised that Sir Emyr has described the referendum as undemocratic. His view could only be justified if it could be shown that the electorate did not understand what the Joint Sovereignty Agreement meant. The issue is so close to their hearts that I feel certain that the majority of Gibraltarians know more about the implications of joint sovereignty than any British diplomat, however distinguished. For Gibraltarians, the issue is a matter for daily discussion. They have lived with it long term. They know exactly what the Spanish Government is offering and they don't want it. Their absolute rejection of joint sovereignty was clear in the referendum. What could be more democratic than that?

Of course it is open to Sir Emyr, or his successor, to hold another referendum making absolutely clear what is meant by joint sovereignty, however, I predict that the result would be exactly the same. His argument that Peter Caruana's referendum was somehow undemocratic is unconvincing. It is true that the terms of the Anglo-Spanish Agreement have not been placed before the Gibraltarians, but that was the decision of the two governments. This might be because all that was envisaged was a very basic agreement from which detailed discussions and negotiations might flow, but this is mere guesswork. The fine print of the proposed agreement remains shrouded in secrecy.

The Future

Much will depend upon future political developments in Europe. Clearly, the Prime Minister wished to develop a British-Spanish axis, possibly with Italy, to balance the Franco-German axis within the European Union. The sovereignty of Gibraltar was used as a bargaining tool but this ploy failed. It does seem as though the proposed agreement on joint sovereignty has been kicked into the long grass for the time being, but the people of Gibraltar will not rest easy until it has been declared null and void. This will happen when the Conservative Party is elected to government.

Joint Sovereignty

It is a pity that the words "joint sovereignty" appeared on the agreement at all. It has led, inevitably, to the Gibraltarians and Spanish dividing into diametrically opposed factions and has made it difficult to identify common ground on which agreement could be reached.

The proposal to omit MOD lands from a joint sovereignty agreement was patently absurd.

There is also the issue of de facto control of the Strait of Gibraltar. There is concern that the Spanish Government may consider this to be a serious bargaining chip.

Reconciliation

It is highly desirable that reconciliation between Gibraltar and Spain is achieved. It is in the best interests of both the Gibraltarians and the Spanish that the two sides live side by side in harmony. Nobody benefits from the border delays and other irritations imposed by the Spanish government.

Constitutional Reform

Michael Ancram has set out clearly how constitutional reform needs to be discussed within Gibraltar. Then the Gibraltar Government must state its position. This is the essence of self-determination. This must come from the Gibraltar Government.

Rescinding Preamble To The Constitution

There is no doubt that, theoretically, Tony Blair, with his huge majority, could force through either an order in Council or Bill rescinding the Preamble to the 1969 Constitution. However, this would be a highly controversial and risky move and therefore unlikely before the next election.

In the unlikely event that the Labour Party includes a policy on Gibraltar in its election manifesto, then the Conservative Party would reiterate its support for the inalienable right of the Gibraltarians to decide on the question of sovereignty. Indeed we would gainsay anything that was not in the best interests of Gibraltar.

Restrictions

It is illuminating how the frontier delays vary according to the mood of the day or the political climate. This shows just how contrived it is. It also shows how readily the restrictions could be withdrawn as a reward for compliance over joint sovereignty. I have no doubt that the restrictions would miraculously disappear overnight.

NATO Restrictions

This is another anomalous situation that will be addressed by the next Conservative Government.

Azores Meeting

There has been much speculation about the discussions between Messrs Aznar, Blair and Bush, however, in answer to my parliamentary questions, the Prime Minister assured the House that neither Gibraltar, nor the Strait of Gibraltar, played any part in those discussions.

Ceuta And Melilla

Dr McShane's interviews with two Spanish newspapers certainly raised a few eyebrows. It appeared to signal that the Gibraltar problem was being kicked into the long grass, at least for the immediate future. I hope he is right!

Conservative Victory

I am confident that this will happen at the next election. I hope that, in view of the Conservative Party's support for Gibraltar, that expatriate Gibraltarians will support the Conservative Party. I would encourage them to vote for the Party that is pledged to protect the future of Gibraltar: every vote will count.

Gibraltar is family and long may it remain British.