MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK praises Gibraltar constitution and the “new relationship”

British Minister for Europe Jim Murphy praised the relationship between the United Kingdom and Gibraltar resulting from the new constitution saying it was “of vital importance” and “worth recognizing by all other nations”.

Minister Murphy made his comments together with British Government and Chief Whip Geoff Hoon at the Monday night reception hosted by the Gibraltar Government in the sideline of the Labor Party Conference in Bournemouth. At the traditional gathering Gibraltar Chief Minister Peter Caruana spoke of the modern, non-colonial relationship between the United Kingdom and Gibraltar resulting from the new Constitution. Minister Murphy welcomed progress being made in the Tripartite forum (UK, Spain and Gibraltar) and expressed warm support for the Rock, reiterating Britain's new commitment on sovereignty, underlining that there would be no sovereignty discussion or negotiation against the wishes of the people of Gibraltar. The Chairman of the British Gibraltar Parliamentary Group Lindsay Hoyle also addressed the reception.