MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Britain dismisses suggestion of any bilateral negotiations with Spain on Gibraltar

Europe minister Lidington said that “our position on sovereignty is clear and has not changed.”

The British Government has dismissed any suggestion of a return to bilateralism with Spain over Gibraltar. In a response to a question tabled in the House of Commons, Europe Minister David Lidington repeated Britain’s long-standing commitment to the people of Gibraltar over sovereignty.

 Lidington did not make any specific reference to the recent resolution agreed by Spain and Britain at the UN, and which Madrid had trumpeted as a return to the pre-trilateral “normality”. But his response made clear that, in Britain’s view, the resolution in no way opened the door to bilateral dialogue over the future of the Rock.

“There have been no discussions, nor have any steps been taken by UK Ministers or officials to restart talks with Spain on the sovereignty of Gibraltar,” Mr Lidington said.

“Our position on sovereignty is clear and has not changed.”

“We will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their wishes. Furthermore, the UK will not enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.”

Lidington was responding to a question tabled in the Commons by Labour MP Jim Dobbin, the chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on Gibraltar.

MP Dobbin had asked whether a UK minister or officials had agreed to restart talks with Spain on the sovereignty of Gibraltar under the Brussels Process or any other bilateral process.