Gibraltar’s representation at the Labour Party Conference continued yesterday evening with the Gibraltar Reception hosted by the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and featuring a keynote speech by the UK Minister for Europe and the Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty MP.
During their time in the US, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Garcia have met with UK Ambassador to the Unite Nations, Sir Mark Lyall Grant. During the meeting a gamut of matters were discussed, including the Chief Minster’s coming intervention in June, before the Committee of 24.
Sitting before the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee this week, Foreign Secretary William Hague was quizzed on the Committee’s recent visit to Gibraltar. Chairman Sir Richard Ottaway commented on the behaviour of frontier officials at the Gibraltar/ Spain border and its affects on Gibraltar’s economy. He noted that trade was down by 12% and asked Mr. Hague if it was time to review the UK’s policy on the situation ‘and see to what extent we can persuade Spain to adopt a more user-friendly approach towards Gibraltar?’
The Government has said that the GSD are once again attempting to distort facts and mislead by taking statistics provided to parliament last week out of context.