Hain Says UK Will Make Sure Spain Abides By Gibraltar Referendum Results

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

29 April 2002

The Panorama news service reported on Friday that the United Kingdom's Minister for Europe, Peter Hain, has given an assurance that the British government will ensure that Spain abides by the results of any referendum on Gibraltarian sovereignty.

Lindsay Hoyle, a Labour backbencher who heads the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gibraltar, asked the Europe Minister recently if he had obtained 'an undertaking from the government of Spain to abide by the results of referendums held in Gibraltar over its status'.

Although this has long been a concern of Mr Hoyle's, the government and people of Gibraltar are more concerned about the Declaration of Principles currently being discussed by the UK and Spain upon which they will likely be asked to vote.

There are strong concerns within the jurisdiction that, although the defeat of shared sovereignty proposals in a referendum seems almost inevitable, the priciples agreed by the UK and Spain will hang over the Rock in perpetuity.

In a House of Commons written answer, Mr Hain replied that: 'The government of Spain are fully aware of the public statements made by my right honourable Friend the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers that in the event of the people of Gibraltar rejecting any joint proposals put forward by Britain and Spain, Her Majesty's Government will continue to stand by the people of Gibraltar politically, legally and morally. This is not a matter for negotiation with Spain.'

Given the strength of feeling in Gibraltar and the political sensitivity of the issue, however, there has been speculation that although the Declaration of Principles may be released later this year, a referendum on the subject is likely to be delayed.

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