MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Tories to question UK government on Spanish incursions in Gibraltar waters

UK Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague

UK Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague is to question the British Government following the recent incidents involving the Spanish navy off the coast of Gibraltar, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.

Mr. Hague, who visited Gibraltar just three weeks ago, said that incursions into Gibraltar’s territorial waters should be “a matter of serious concern to the British Government”.

“I will press the foreign secretary on what the Government is doing to sort this matter out and get the message across that this is not acceptable behaviour from a European partner”, he said.

Mr Hague will also be tabling the further written questions immediately to the Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

He will ask what representations the British Government has made to the Government of Spain over the reported incursions of a Spanish Fisheries Protections vessel and a Civil Guard vessel into Gibraltar’s territorial waters and what steps ministers have taken to ensure that British sovereignty over Gibraltar’s territorial waters is respected and if he will make a statement.

He will also ask Mr Miliband what steps he is taking at the European Union level to ensure that British sovereignty over Gibraltar’s territorial waters is recognised and respected.

Conservative Euro candidate Mike Dolley, who will be returning to Gibraltar on Monday in the run up to the elections on June 4th said: “As a Conservative candidate I am delighted to see a politician of William’s stature and reputation taking up the cudgels on behalf of Gibraltar. Spain’s behaviour is unacceptable. When the Conservatives talk about “Standing up for Gibraltar”, they mean it. The Conservative Party will never let Gibraltar down!”