Blair Backs MacShane Over Gibraltar Comments

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

13 June 2003

UK European Affairs Minister Denis MacShane has received the support of Prime Minister Tony Blair over comments made to Spanish newspaper El Pais last weekend when he dismissed the idea of an Anglo/Spanish deal concerning Gibraltar in the years ahead.

During Prime Minister's question time in the House of Commons this week, Blair was asked by Angela Watkinson, a Conservative representing Upminster, if he could "confirm that your Foreign Office Minister spoke for the Government when he said that the prospect of a deal with Spain over the sovereignty of Gibraltar is simply ‘zero’?" In response, Mr Blair replied: "The Minister certainly did speak for the Government. What he actually said however, was that there could be no question of any deal going through without the consent of the people of Gibraltar. We have always made that clear. That remains the position. I have said it myself and he said it too."

Whilst talking to the Spanish daily, MacShane said there was little possibility of there being a settlement during his term of office, nor that of his next few successors. "I don't think the people of Gibraltar will approve any steps on sovereignty until there has been a long period of calm and good relations with Spain," MacShane told the paper, adding: "I think Madrid and London have more important things to talk about."

"I have respect for the Spanish position, but quite simply, I do not see any positive outcome on the issue for some time," observed the minister.

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