EU to start with has no right to use Gibraltar as a negotiating tool for UK’s Brexit.
Firstly, let us all remember Gibraltar Voted to stay and although in the main compared to UK it means nothing but in actual fact to US as a people it means a lot.
We accept democratically that people in UK voted to leave and although we fully understand it – remember we all voted to remain in. Why? It is simple Andalucía and Gibraltar as a whole have benefited from being in the EU especially on free movement of people and trade.
Now due to Brexit this is put in danger. With it comes as we always knew – the sovereignty issues again.
The European Union has no right whatsoever on using Gibraltar as a negotiating tool or a pawn for political gain!
Once again Spain that has bullied Gibraltar and its people for over 300 years is once again at risk! How many times does Gibraltar and the people need to vote to state what we want. We have had a referendum in 1967 where we asked if we wanted to pass under Spanish sovereignty or remain under British Sovereignty! Over 12, 000 people voted the result was very clear – 99.64% British Sovereignty.
In 2002 due to Jack Straw stupidity of thinking we would want shared sovereignty – we had a vote again with a clearer question – DO you approve of the principle that Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar?
Answer was a Yes or NO and the result again over 17 thousand people voted with a result of 98.48% NO!
You would have thought we cannot or have not been clearer than ever” nearly 35 years later from the 1967 referendum! We DO NOT WANT TO BECOME SPANISH OR SHARE WITH SPAIN!
Due to this Jack Straw stupidity, we had to go to a referendum again and ensure that UK never enters into bilateral talks on our sovereignty again. To ensure that this never happens we had a new Gibraltar Constitution
Order 2006 – UK cannot negotiate without the consent of the people of Gibraltar!
The EU Referendum result for Gibraltar was also very clear – more than 19,300 people voted to REMAIN! 96%
Gibraltar gets along well with Spain until the Spanish Govt claim our land! We have been British for over 300 years one would have expected that Spain understand the message by now!
What has added insult to injury is that who do the European Union think they are in placing a veto on Gibraltar on the Brexit issue with UK?
It is up to Gibraltar and only Gibraltar to decide on our future. The EU has no right at all and as such must take back that Veto clause and UK should stand up and fight it too!
Gibraltar is not a pawn to be used by EU – Spain or UK! Hands off us! Gibraltar has a right to be heard and a right to choose.
In Article 50 our PM should have included Gibraltar so that this did not happen and to ensure we play a part of the Brexit negotiations!
It is sad to see that once again the pen pushers in UK did not foresee this!
Now we need all of our UK MPs and MEPs to stand up and fight for us! EU has no right to interfere with the long-standing dispute that Spain is and has been fixated with about Gibraltar!
What Spain and the EU should be doing is ensuring a good Brexit Trade deal! Donald Tusk is taking the wrong action with his reactions!
What is more upsetting for me as a Gibraltarian is the silence from the other member states! There is no way to remain neutral in this decision – if member states do not stand up for us it means they agree to oppress us and bully us just like SPAIN! All member states should be outraged by this veto! It is wrong politically and morally!
Remember injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere! Our lives begin to end the day we become silent on the things that matter!
IT DOES MATTER THAT EU THINK THEY CAN PLACE THIS VETO IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF DEMOCRACY!
So hence why we must go worldwide so this injustice stops now! NO Veto on negotiating out of the EU using Gibraltar! End of! Remove any reference to Gibraltar! Like our Chief Minister stated removing would be a sign of good faith and good will. Removing will be limiting damage instead of increasing the damage to Gibraltar who if you think about it were the ones who voted to REMAIN!
The veto is not constructive! The EU has become a game of POWER! Theresa May has to start standing up for us and stop the bullying of smaller UK Territories by EU or Spain or in fact any other country!
What I find very hypocritical is the fact that now Spain has come out stating they would accept Scotland as an independent member of the EU – when they will not let Catalunya become independent! Worse that Spain dare to claim my land when they ceded Gibraltar in perpetuity meaning FOREVER! Spain tried to capture Gibraltar in the 13th Seige 1727 then in the great siege 1779/1783. Now in our modern world we have had to have two referendums to show Spain we are not theirs to claim.
This veto is just a new modern way to try and get control of Gibraltar and UK must stand firm – no deal if Gibraltar is being vetoed!
By the way about Spain consistent claim – let them take it to court as they keep refusing!
People say it is not about sovereignty – but it is – look at this correctly – why has Spain got to agree or accept anything about Brexit and specifically on Gibraltar?
I am sure Spain would not like it if EU interfered with Spain relationship with Morroco – that is about Ceuta and Melilla?
Or with Portugal about Olivenza – which Spain invaded and then made Portuguese currency forbidden and their language and then adopted the Spanish language in the city hall documents! Even private schools were not allowed to teach Portuguese! But yet even when the Portuguese government raises the issue to solve the issue with the people of Olivenza and Spain within the European Union – the EU did not get involved! (2004)
So no we do not trust Spain and never will. But very thankful for the tough message being sent by UK to Spain! About time we heard our UK Lion ROAR!
Below is the link to the Sky News Interview
https://youtu.be/4nCAEd6ICFE
Anne-Marie Struggles
