Britain must not repeat its “surrender” of the Chagos Islands when it comes to Gibraltar, the Foreign Secretary has been warned. David Lammy is racing to nail down a post-Brexit deal on the Rock with the European Union and Spain.
There is fury that the UK agreed to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands – home of the Deigo Garcia UK-US military base – to Mauritius.
Shadow armed forces minister Mark Francois said: “Gibraltar is a key strategic asset for both Britain and NATO and its citizens have demonstrated time and again their determination to remain firmly allied to Britain. After Labour’s abject Chagos surrender, there can now be absolutely no question of undermining the sovereignty of Gibraltar too.”
A Government source stamped on a report that Gibraltar will join the bloc’s Schengen free-movement zone.
The source said: “Schengen membership is categorically not on cards. This has never been on the table at any point in these negotiations.”
But the source neither confirmed nor denied that under the deal British travellers will have to present their passports to Spanish or EU border guards when arriving in Gibraltar.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman warned a deal which handed control of the border to the EU would be “another surrender and a handover in all but name”.
Mr Lammy headed to Brussels after holding talks with political and business figures on Gibraltar. No formal agreement on the rules governing the border between Spain and Gibraltar has been reached since Britain left the EU in 2020.
A Foreign Office source told the press association: “We’re working to secure an agreement that works for the people and businesses in Gibraltar. An agreement that will protect British sovereignty, supports Gibraltar’s economy and allows businesses to plan for the future.”
Mr Lammy and UK’s overseas territories minister Stephen Doughty held talks with Gibraltar’s chief minister Fabian Picardo.
Mr Picardo said on social media it is “time to try to finalise arrangements for lasting, stable relationship between Gibraltar and the EU/Spain which is safe, secure and beneficial”.
Officials warned there were still “hard negotiations ahead”.
In 2002 nearly 99% of Gibraltarians rejected a proposal to share sovereignty with Spain. The territory is home to an RAF base and a key facility.
The Government has said it will not sign up to a deal which gives sovereignty over Gibraltar to another country, or one if the Gibraltarian government is not content with what it is on the table.
This month’s strategic defence review stated the UK would maintain a military presence in Gibraltar – “upholding the sovereignty of British Gibraltar territorial waters”.
Former Leader of the Commons Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg warned that the UK will have emboldened Spain by giving away the Chagos Islands.
He told GB News: “I think if you’re Spain you’ll be looking at Gibraltar, and you’ll see that this government doesn’t stand up to anybody.”
It is reported the Mauritian government will use multi-million pound payments under the Chagos deal to pay off its national debt, allowing the abolition for more than eight out of 10 Mauritians in work.