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.
David Cameron has called the Spanish leader Mariano Rajoy in an effort to reduce tensions. Apparently, Mr Rajoy told David Cameron that he is committed to reducing checks at the frontier and agreed to calm the current row.
At around 4am today, 7th August, officers of the Royal Gibraltar Police, arrested three Spanish nationals and three local men following an operation to combat tobacco smuggling.
When describing the press coverage of the current cross-border tension, a Public Relations expert speaking on yesterday morning’s BBC TV’s News 24 channel described the press coverage as ‘Gibraltar 1, Spain 0 in Public Relations terms.’ Such has been the extent and quality of the media’s coverage of recent events.