Conservatives Slam Labour Over Gibraltar Situation

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

04 February 2002

The UK Government was criticised in the House of Commons last week for the 'mess' it has made of the talks over sovereignty in Gibraltar.

Conservative MPs laid into Foreign Office Minister, Peter Hain, arguing that the difference between Labour and Tory approaches to the problem is that previous Conservative governments have refused to entertain Spanish claims to ownership of the Rock, while Labour appear to be on the brink of agreeing a joint sovereignty deal.

Tories also argued that the negotiations currently in progress with Spain are a pointless exercise, as they will be rejected if put to a referendum in Gibraltar, but will remain, hanging over the heads of Gibraltarian citizens, as an agreed principle with Spain.

Mr Hain attempted to lay the blame at the door of Gibraltar's Chief Minister, Peter Caruana, saying that his refusal to attend the talks was wrong, and entirely negative. He also tried to liken the situation to that of the Northern Ireland peace talks, but was reminded that in the case of the Good Friday Agreement, the question of consent had been accepted by all affected parties.

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