MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Theresa May pledges full support for Gibraltar in private letter to Picardo

Prime Minister May said that, ‘The outcome of the EU referendum will not affect our steadfast commitment to Gibraltar and its people”

United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May has pledged her new administration’s full support to Gibraltar, in a recent private letter to Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.

 In her reply to a letter from CM Picardo, the Prime Minister said that, ‘The outcome of the EU referendum will not affect our steadfast commitment to Gibraltar and its people. We will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their wishes not will we enter into any process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.’

The Prime Minister’s letter went on to say that, ‘It will take some time for our future relationship with the EU to become clear but I can assure you that there will be no immediate changes in Gibraltar’s circumstances, neither in the way people travel nor how services are sold.’

Finally, the Prime Minister referred to Mr Picardo’s earlier description of David Cameron as ‘one of Gibraltar’s greatest champions.’ In her response, Theresa May stressed, ‘I can assure you that this support will continue while I am in Downing Street.’

The Chief Minister, said, ‘I was pleased to have an early opportunity to meet the Prime Minster on 13 July and I am delighted with the detailed written reply I have received from her regarding various matters which are of concern to my Government and, indeed, to the people of Gibraltar. This has been an excellent start to the relationship between my Government and that of Theresa May and I very much look forward to working with her in the months and years to come.’