Gibraltar warning as Brexiteer claims 'monumental sellout is on the cards’
EXCLUSIVE: Robert Oulds claims Lord Cameron may "surrender" the Rock's airport to Spain", a move he said would "cut Gibraltar's lifeline to the world".
Britain is on the verge of a “monumental sellout” when it comes to sovereignty of Gibraltar, a Brexit-backing London think tank has claimed after a meeting between Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron and European Union officials.
However, the Chief Miniser Fabian Picardo has vehemently denied any agreement between the UK and the bloc wil jeapordise the Rock’s close ties with Britain, insisting suggestions to the contrary were “abhorrent to me and to all Gibraltarians”.
The Bruges Group, headed up by director Robert Oulds, issued its warning after House of Commons’s European scrutiny committee (ESC) highlighted concerns about high-level meetings between the former UK Prime Minister and representatives from Brussels.
A Bruges Group post on X written by Mr Oulds declared: “MPs are right to be concerned about negotiations over Gibraltar. All indications are that a monumental (and unnecessary) sellout is on the horizon.
It continued: “We must not compromise British sovereignty to appease the rotten EU.”
Another post added: “Negotiations over Gibraltar are taking place behind closed doors and with minimal oversight from MPs.
“It is highly likely that the resulting abomination will be presented as a fait accompli. This is underhand, unacceptable and has echoes of the NI Backstop.”
MPs are right to be concerned about negotiations over Gibraltar.
— Bruges Group ???????????? (@BrugesGroup) May 9, 2024
All indications are that a monumental (and unnecessary) sellout is on the horizon.
We must not compromise British sovereignty to appease the rotten EU.https://t.co/OdYtEVHKN1
Mr Oulds subsequently told Express.co.uk: “Cameron may surrender the airport to Spain. It's vital that Britain keeps control of this crucial piece of infrastructure.”
Any move to do so would hand a huge amount of control to Spain and “cut Gibraltar’s lifeline to the world”, Mr Oulds argued.
An ESC letter signed by chairman Sir Bill Cash to David Rutley, Minister for Americas, Caribbean and Overseas Territories, earlier this week said: “Rather than being assured that you are pursuing a deal that strikes this balance and, most importantly, respects UK sovereignty, we are concerned that you are allowing the pendulum to swing too far in the direction of the EU.
One significant concern for the committee related to how UK nationals and Gibraltarians would be handled if Schengen controls were introduced at Gibraltar’s airport as opposed to the land border.
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There was a risk of eroding UK sovereignty “to the point of meaninglessness”, Mr Cash claimed.
In a subsequent letter to the Daily Telegraph, Mr Picardo said: “The suggestion from the European scrutiny committee that I or any Gibraltarian chief minister or politician would sign up to terms that would weaken our sovereignty, control or jurisdiction over a single inch of the Rock is abhorrent to me and to all Gibraltarians.
“Were I to agree to even a hint of that, my cabinet and I would not survive walking even a single imperial yard down Main Street, Gibraltar.”
He added: “I understand Parliament’s anxiety to know the terms and implications of any UK-EU agreement for Gibraltar that is reached. They will be satisfied.”
Mr Picardo met with Lord Cameron on Thursday in London for discussions related to outstanding issues and matters in ongoing negotiations with the EU.
Afterwards he said: "We were both clear about our determination to work to clear these final challenges but resolute that without these being resolved we could not finalise matters.
"We were both equally full of praise for our respective teams and clear that we can see that our negotiating counterparts are as eager and enthusiastic about finalising matters in good faith.
"I was greatly encouraged by the terms of my discussion with the Foreign Secretary and Minister Rutley.”