MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Gibraltar “is part of the UK” and “we don't need any type of co-sovereignty”
”Gibraltar is part of the United Kingdom and will continue being so,” emphasized ambassador Manley Gibraltar “is part of the UK” and its particular circumstances will be reflected in Britain’s exit deal from the EU, the UK’s ambassador to Spain said this week, adding that co-sovereignty was not an option. Simon Manley made the comments in a wide-ranging interview on Brexit published by La Nueva España newspaper on Wednesday.
This was the latest in a series of interviews given by Mr Manley to the Spanish media on the UK withdrawal from the EU. The interview covered many areas of the UK economic, social and cultural links with Spain and the possible impact of Brexit. But, as has now become customary, the ambassador was also asked about Gibraltar.
Mr Manley’s response, as on previous occasions, was firm and clear. “Gibraltar is part of the United Kingdom and will continue being so,” he said. “The British Government and the people of Gibraltar have been very clear in underlining that we are not going to negotiate co-sovereignty with any other country.”
The reporter asked Ambassador Manley whether Gibraltarians would be more likely to consider co-sovereignty once they felt the impact of Brexit.
“We will reach an agreement with Europe to ensure that doesn’t happen and so that there is no impact either on the 7,000 Spaniards who work in Gibraltar,” Mr Manley replied. “We don’t need any type of co-sovereignty.”
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Nov 11th, 2016 - 01:45 pm +7What are you blurbing about? I, and many others here DO pay UK tax and get nothing in return, other than £50 million a year (a sum about to be reduced) is paid to Gibraltar to maintain the Royal Navy Dock.
All other Gibraltarians do pay taxes locally, please don't make it sound as if the UK are funding Gibraltar, it's not!
Gibraltar is NOT, of course, part of the UK. Unlike spain, the UK doesn't find it necessary to make up new laws and arguments, as spain does, to justify colonialism and illegitimate claims. One wonders about Ceuta and Melilla, and various uninhabited islands off the Moroccan coast that spain has used military force to retain.
Nov 11th, 2016 - 01:11 pm +6And a word to Mercopress. At the bottom of the page, the word is “Subscribe”.
Gib is a very handy Naval base at the entrance to the Med. Britain is the rightful owner of the territory and should hang on to it. Spain should stop grumbling, they are the ones causing trouble, not Britain. To claim otherwise is just hyperbole. This business of various Spaniards trying to claim our territory is indeed tiresome but we must stick up for what is right. As someone points out Spain is hanging on to various territories that are clearly in other country's close neighbourhoods. They should shut up and work on their own Club Med problems.
Nov 11th, 2016 - 03:32 pm +6As for the tax and public spending arguments there are much costlier remote places and islands in Britain that recieve massive subsidies from tbe English taxpayer who recognises their need and willingly contributes to make their lives possible. Should be cut them off too?
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