MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
''Vote Leave'' Chair says leaving the EU will not affect UK protection of Overseas Territories
“Our overseas territories deserve our protection and they will continue to get it,” Ms Stuart said according to the transcript of the Foreign Affairs Committee 
UK successfully defended the Falklands on its own. ”It has defended Gibraltar on its own. I don’t think that whether or not we are in the EU will affect that.” 
Chairman, MP Crispin Blunt said the referendum offers the British people a once-in-a-generation opportunity to chart a course for the UK’s role in the world. Withdrawal from the European Union will not affect the protection the UK provides for its overseas territories, the chair of Vote Leave, Gisela Stuart, has told MPs in the House of Commons.
“Our overseas territories deserve our protection and they will continue to get it,” Ms Stuart said, according to the transcript of the final evidence session of the Foreign Affairs Committee’s inquiry into the implications of a Brexit decision.
The Labour MP was answering questions during an oral evidence session in the Lower House on the subject of the cost and benefits of EU membership for the UK’s role in the world.
Asked if she was concerned about the impact of a British withdrawal on Britain’s overseas territories, she said: “The United Kingdom successfully defended the Falklands on its own. It has defended Gibraltar on its own. I don’t think that whether or not we are in the EU will affect that.”
However, a very different was expresses from the Falklands and Gibraltar governments in a report from the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee made up of Leave and Remain supporting MPs .
The Committee had received evidence from the Governments of the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar. Both argued against UK withdrawal from the EU for economic and political reasons.
The Falklands Islands Government said it received considerable certainty and support from EU member states because of the provisions of the Treaty of Rome. A Brexit, it believes, might encourage Argentina to be much more aggressive in its approach.
The submission from the Gibraltar Government asserted the overwhelming majority of the people of Gibraltar, will vote to remain in the EU. It also highlighted the importance of the EU to its economy, and expressed concern that Spain would take advantage of a UK exit from the EU to further undermine, isolate and exclude Gibraltar from the European mainstream.
The Committee’s Chairman, Crispin Blunt said the referendum offers the British people a once-in-a-generation opportunity to chart a course for the UK’s role in the world. Voters, he says, should consider not only the short term consequences of staying or leaving but the long term opportunities and challenges.
In related news MP Gisela Stuart has urged the Home Office to bar French far right leader Marine Le Pen from visiting Britain.
Vote Leave chairman Stuart said Ms Le Pen held “divisive and inflammatory” views and her visit would not be “conducive to the public good”. The president of the French National Front, who backs Brexit, is expected to travel to the UK in the next few weeks.
Ms Le Pen has said she intends to speak in favor of Britain leaving the EU and wants France, like the UK, to hold a referendum on leaving.
In a letter to Home Secretary Theresa May, Ms Stuart said the National Front leader “has previously made many divisive and inflammatory comments, including comparing Muslims praying in the street to the Nazi occupation of France”.
“Accordingly, I urge you to exercise your powers under immigration legislation to refuse her admission into the country if and when she attempts to visit the UK” underlined MP Stuart.
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Read all commentsI'm sorry about the views of the Falklands and Gibraltar. I wonder if they have lost sight of reality. Do the people of these countries really think that the wishes of 33,000 people mean much against the needs of 65 million? Both countries managed before the EU. They can either manage again or hand themselves over to argieland and spain. Nobody except Britain is going to help them.
Apr 29th, 2016 - 07:46 am 0“I'm sorry about the views of the Falklands and Gibraltar. I wonder if they have lost sight of reality. Do the people of these countries really think that the wishes of 33,000 people mean much against the needs of 65 million? ”
Apr 29th, 2016 - 08:38 am 0We're entitled to our opinions, just as you are. In terms of votes, we are numerically less: my vote will counter your vote, and that's it: but to silence us as you wish is undemocratic.
As to your assertion that the “needs” of the 65 million are to leave - that's your opinion. An incorrect one as far as I am concerned - and not just because I am Gibraltarian. IMO a Brexit is against the UK's interests, but then I don't have the misty-eyed view of the UK as a 'great power' that some of you do.
“Nobody except Britain is going to help them.”
Really? The EU has helped us enormously: I expanded on that on another thread. It is the EU that keeps the border open; that forced Spain to recognise our dialling code and open phone lines; that ensures Spain can't impose unilateral restrictions, and forces it to take its ludicrous 'complaints' through EU channels (where every single one has failed). And that enables our businesses to operate Europe-wide.
It is well-known that one of the first questions Margallo asked on coming to power was “can I close the border?” The answer, of course, is No because of Article 45 of the TFEU. That doesn't apply in case of Brexit.
A Brexit would probably shrink our economy by 20%; a closed border by 50% or more. So for us, it's a no-brainer.
Britain has done little to help us unilaterally: what it does is through representation to the EU. The tangible help from the UK is that our Constitution means we can veto attempts (like those of Blair and Hain) to sell us out. But in terms of anything unilateral from the UK - preventing Spanish naval incursions, or stopping harrassment - all we get are diplomatic notes.
I prefer the authority of EU law to relying on the good behaviour of a Spanish Govt.
@ 2 sceptic64
Apr 29th, 2016 - 11:23 am 0I am confused.
Picardo claims there are many thousands of Spanish working in Gibraltar and they are the ones who suffer most when the border 'slow-down' is in place.
I do realize that Gollum is an ignorant twat, but then again most of the so called government are the same (if ever they manage to form a government this May) but do you really think that given the unrest throughout Spain the workers in Gib from Spain are going to stand for having there livelihood snatched from them without major unrest and probably triggering another threat of internal break up?
Frankly I couldn't see WTF the EU did except sit on the fence at the last fiasco so I do not believe they will be of any help if the remain idiots win.
Vote LEAVE!
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