Ministers updated Parliament on Wednesday on a major step forward by the UK’s Overseas Territories to help improve global corporate transparency. The written statement welcomes commitments from eight Overseas Territories to introduce publicly accessible registers detailing who owns the companies in their Territory.
The status of Gibraltar can be negotiated for Gibraltar by any parties other than the government of Gibraltar, and it is unacceptable to suggest that any negotiation could be between Spain and the United Kingdom. In the post-Brexit future, for the people of Gibraltar democratic legitimacy and credibility is above any return to old-style bilateralism.
The government of Gibraltar welcomes the appointment of Vice Admiral Sir David Steel KBE, DL as Governor of Gibraltar.
The Gibraltar government could borrow up to 500 million pounds for Coronavirus aid if the community requires it in the coming months. This news came before parliament unanimously passed the emergency budget bill which will help cushion the negative economic effects the virus will have on the peninsula.
Gibraltar has started banning people entering from coronavirus-hit countries. In a document sent to the Japanese embassy in London, Gibraltar said it “may deny” entry to people who have visited any of 16 “dangerous countries” which have been hit by coronavirus.
Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister of the Gibraltar government expressed on Wednesday condolences on its behalf, and on behalf of the People of Gibraltar, to the family of Fernando Moran, former Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Spain, who has passed away on 19 January.
Gibraltar originally joined the EU under the British Treaty of Accession in 1972. On the evening of Friday 31st January 2020 at midnight Central European Time the departure from the European Union at the appointed time the UK formally ceased being a member state.
A former Cabinet Office minister said British overseas territories such as Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands should be able to elect MPs to Parliament after Brexit. John Penrose wants the 14 overseas territories, which include the renowned tax-havens the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands, to be able to negotiate devolution arrangements similar to that enjoyed by all four countries within the UK, and also elect MPs to Westminster.
The Conservative and Unionist party manifesto for the coming 12 December election, Get Brexit Done Unleash Britain’s Potential, in one of its chapters includes a special mention to the democratic rights and the protection of the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and other Overseas Territories.
The Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP) and Liberal Party alliance, led by Fabian Picardo, has been elected for a third term of office.