MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

British MEPs on Gibraltar fact finding visit

Conservative Member of the European Parliament for the South West and Gibraltar Mr Neil Parish visited his constituents on the Rock last week and was briefed on the latest developments in Gibraltar.

He met with the chairman of the Hindu community to discuss the implications of the recent case brought by Spain which attempts to restrict British Overseas Territory citizens voting in EU elections.

Although this in practice only affects under a hundred people, it is seen as a serious attack on their rights. If applied to the United Kingdom a considerable number would be affected.

Mr. Parish was accompanied by two senior Conservative MEPs Richard Ashworth, who represents the South East, and Philip Bradbourn from the West Midlands who has a special interest in Aviation matters and was keen to see the Gibraltar airport. Both have recently visited the Falkland Islands on a fact finding mission.

Later, Mr Parish was taken for a 'toxic tour' around the nearby Spanish refinery and industrial complex by members of the Bay Bucket Brigade. This is a cross border initiative between Gibraltar and Spanish environmentalists, and undertakes independent air sampling.

He had the chance to experience the high levels of air pollution first hand and expressed amazement at the dilapidated state of some of the plant operating a short distance from a school.

By Jim Watt - Gibnews.net