Britain would 'go to war' against Spain to defend Gibraltar

by Paul Sandle

A senior member of Theresa May's ruling Conservative Party says the British Prime Minister would go to war with Spain over Gibraltar.

Michael Howard, a former Tory leader, said he expected Mrs May to defend the territory, as then prime minister Margaret Thatcher did when she went to war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands 35 years ago.

Mrs May issued a statement late on Sunday (AEST) saying Britain was "steadfast" in its commitment to Gibraltar and would work with the territory on the southern tip of Spain to secure the best possible outcome from Brexit talks.

The European Union proposed on Friday offering Spain a right of veto over Gibraltar's future trade relations with the bloc. That would give Madrid sway over the fate of the enclave once Britain has left the bloc and the status of its overseas territory is no longer an internal EU matter.

A Spanish flag flies atop customs house on the Spanish side of the border with Gibraltar. AP

Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in 1713, but has long called for it to be returned.

Downing Street said Mrs May reiterated that Britain "remains steadfastly committed" to its support for Gibraltar, its people and its economy, in a call with the territory's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.

"The Prime Minister said we will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes, nor will we ever enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content," a spokeswoman said.

"The Prime Minister said we remain absolutely dedicated to working with Gibraltar for the best possible outcome on Brexit, and will continue to involve them fully in the process."

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said earlier that Gibraltar "is going to be protected all the way".

Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo. The people of Gibraltar have twice voted to remain British rather than be ruled by Spain. AP

"The people of Gibraltar have made it clear that they don't want to live under the sovereignty of Spain," he said on the BBC's Andrew Marr show.

Voters in Gibraltar, a strategically important rocky outpost near the straits that separate Europe from Africa, rejected the idea of Britain sharing sovereignty with Spain by 99 per cent to 1 per cent in 2002, but overwhelmingly backed remaining in the EU in June's Brexit referendum.

Mr Howard - who sits in the House or Lords - invoked the 1982 Falklands war over the south Atlantic islands, another British overseas territory.

"Thirty-five years ago this week another woman prime minister sent a task force halfway across the world to defend the freedom of another small group of British people against another Spanish-speaking country," he said on Sky TV's Sophy Ridge on Sunday.

"I'm absolutely certain that our current prime minister will show the same resolve in standing by the people of Gibraltar."

The opposition Labour party said such "inflammatory" comments would not help Britain get what it needed from the Brexit negotiations.

"Sadly it's typical of the botched Tory approach which threatens a bad deal for Britain," the party's foreign affairs spokeswoman Emily Thornberry said.

Spain's foreign minister Alfonso Dastis refused to talk about veto rights in an interview on Sunday, but said he viewed the EU's stance on Gibraltar very positively.

"When the United Kingdom leaves the EU, the EU partner is Spain, and in the case of Gibraltar, the EU is therefore obliged to take the side of Spain," he told El Pais.

"I do not think it's necessary to talk about vetoes".

Reuters

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