Forget the Irish Border what about the Gibraltar Issue

[Zigenare]

How about Britain also gives up it's 'sovereign' territories as well and why can't Spain control both sides of the Straits?

The "subtle" difference is that the people of Gibraltar, The Falkland Islands, Scotland, and members of the Commonwealth have been given the opportunity to vote to leave the UK.

The same cannot be said about Ceuta and Melilla which have only been offered "Statutes of Autonomy" - I hasten to add that both of these cities are claimed by Morocco!

As for Spain controlling both sides of the straits, why should they? The Straits of Gibraltar are of strategic importance and cannot be held to ransom by any one state.

[AtW]

The "subtle" difference is that the people of Gibraltar, The Falkland Islands, Scotland, and members of the Commonwealth have been given the opportunity to vote to leave the UK.

So, would they be given that opportunity again, or was that last vote the will of the people that can not be changed ever?

[Zigenare]

So, would they be given that opportunity again, or was that last vote the will of the people that can not be changed ever?

What do you think would be a valid reason to run in the case of Brexit for example the referendum again? When we've actually left or at the first sign of difficulty in leaving, or maybe just because a bunch if whinging losers didn't like the result.

I use the term whinging losers because not all members of the remain group are whinging and crying "foul", just a minority of the minority, the lesser of the losers, if you will.

[AtW]

What do you think would be a valid reason to run in the case of Brexit for example the referendum again?

Brexit itself in my view is a valid reason to run referendum, certainly in Scotland where vast majority voted to stay in.

[NotAllThere]

Indeed. All the politicians in Westminster WERE in fact democratically elected by the Electorate. Unlike, say, the members of the European Commission.

Since when have civil servants been elected? But you know that - this is more of you being a prat.

[BR14]

As for Spain controlling both sides of the straits, why should they? The Straits of Gibraltar are of strategic importance and cannot be held to ransom by any one state.

unless it's us?

[BR14]

Brexit itself in my view is a valid reason to run referendum, certainly in Scotland where vast majority voted to stay in.

don't bring Scotland into your wee fantasies Ivan

[AtW]

don't bring Scotland into your wee fantasies Ivan

All Scotland needs to do now is leave UK, join EU and clean up financial sector from ze City

[Eirikur]

Where's that then?

If you're talking about Gibraltar then it already has a hard border.

You mean just like the UK has with the EU, yes you're right for once

Anyway Gib voted 96% in favour of remain. So why do gammon island based brexiteers want continental Gib to leave the EU?

[shaunbhoy]

Anyway Gib voted 96% in favour of remain. So why do gammon island based brexiteers want continental Gib to leave the EU?

The Spanish dictator, General Francisco Franco, began a campaign to force negotiations on the future of Gibraltar in the early 1950s, claiming that not only was British control of the territory since 1704 akin to colonisation, but that he had also been promised the rock by Winston Churchill during the second world war in return for not attacking British interests.

Both claims were dismissed by the British, but by 1966, under pressure from the United Nations, Spain and the UK began formal talks about the future of Gibraltar that would eventually lead to the first-ever referendum on the sovereignty of the territory.

By the time the vote came around on 10 September 1967, the electorate was presented with a simple choice: to accept Spanish sovereignty or retain the link with Britain and the crown.

Joyous celebrations
As there was no sign within Gibraltar of any popular or political movement pressing for an end to British rule, and because civil liberties in Spain under Franco were restricted, it was widely believed that the Spanish claim had little chance of success.

In the end, 44 people voted for the first option, to accept Spanish sovereignty, while 12,138 (a resounding 99.34 per cent of the electorate) voted to stay British.

Here are some salient facts for you.

The Gibraltarians made it clear that they wish to remain fully integrated with the wishes of the British Electorate.

It would be churlish in the extreme to somehow contrive to have them miss out on the wishes of the majority of voters.

HTH