UK MPs Play Down Gibraltar 'Trips For Favours' Row

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

21 February 2002

According to a report in Wednesday's Panorama newspaper, UK MPs visiting Gibraltar have played down reports that they are involved in a 'trips for favours' deal, explaining that fact-finding visits are essential in order to fully understand the issues involved in the conflict between the UK, Spain, and the Rock over sovereignty.

Controversy over the trip, which was undertaken by 11 Members of Parliament and a peer, was inflamed by an article in the Guardian on February 16th, which suggested that the Gibraltar Government's representative in London, Albert Poggio, was taking unfair advantage of the privileges afforded to him by the UK to influence MPs' decisions.

Several UK politicians have supported this assertion, including Labour MP Chris Bryant, who asserted that: 'Commercial lobbying companies would be barred from using a House of Commons pass to run a campaign within the House. The same should apply to Gibraltar.'

However, the MPs in question have fiercely rejected allegations that they are enjoying foreign jaunts in exchange for their votes, arguing that their direct experience and greater understanding of the jurisdiction will make it easier to explain the issues to their parliamentary colleagues.

Speaking earlier this week, they condemned the 'orchestrated spin war' against them and the Gibraltarian Government as 'disgraceful', and 'a slur', according to Panorama.

Recommended