UK Denies Using Gibraltar As Lure For Spain Over Iraq War

by Robert Lee, Tax-News.com, London

15 May 2003

The British Government was forced to refute suggestions by Commons backbenchers this week that Gibraltar was used as a "bargaining chip" in order to woo the Spanish into the pro-war coalition.

Conservative member for Upminster Angela Watkinson was the most vocal critic of the government, slamming its "disgraceful mishandling" of negotiations with Spain in the weeks leading up to the war. In her opinion, it was "iniquitous that the people should have to suffer any uncertainty about their future sovereignty," citing Article 73 of the United Nations Charter which stipulates the population of Gibraltar has the right to remain British for "as long as they so desire."

"In the 21st century we do not give away our princesses against their will in diplomatic marriages," Mrs Watkinson told the assembled MPs.

The government also received criticism from its own party in the shape of Tom Cox, member for Tooting, who asserted he would "bitterly oppose" any move to hand over the sovereignty of Gibraltar against the inhabitants' wishes.

The government meanwhile, denied that Gibraltar's future had figured in the negotiations with the Spanish Prime Minister on the eve of the Iraq war. It was left to Foreign Office minister Denis MacShane to defend the government's line, saying: "I can assure you that Gibraltar was not raised at the Azores talks. Believe it or not, we as ministers, talk regularly to opposite numbers in Spain about a whole range of European and global issues without Gibraltar having to feature in them."

MacShane added that Labour's policies on Gibraltar were "clear and unambiguous" and that he has received no indication that any change in the government's stance towards the territory has come about.

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