MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands people's “democratic rights” will be upheld, pledges Tories' manifesto

PM Cameron at the presentation of the Conservative party's manifesto ahead of May 7 general election

With less than a month to UK's election the Conservative party released its manifesto which explicitly declares that a Tory government “will uphold the democratic rights of the people of Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands to remain British, for as long as that is their wish, and protect our Overseas Territories”.

 The manifesto under the heading of “Strong leadership, a clear economic plan, a brighter more secure future”, in its chapter “Britain stands tall in the future” refers to defense issues and specifically mentions Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands.

In the presentation of the chapter 'Britain standing tall in the world', the manifesto says that a Tory government will be driven by a determination to protect UK's security and prosperity; ensure Britain is a major player on the world stage, using diplomacy to protect its interests; uphold British values and tackle threats to UK's security and prosperity; help generate new trade, investment and job opportunities; maintain world class Armed Forces so they continue to guarantee security, and uphold the commitment to spend 0.7% of GDP income on international development.

“Economic security and national security are two sides of the same coin. Without one, you cannot have the other. Our prosperity depends upon Britain remaining an active, outward-looking nation, one that is engaged with the world, not looking in on itself. We will maintain Britain’s strong global role and our capacity to project British power and values around the world”, pledges the manifesto.