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.
Gibraltar MEP Sir Graham Watson has written to the President of the European Commission on the escalation of tensions ‘with regard to the sovereignty of Gibraltar’.
Mr. Watson notes his appreciation that the Commission prefers not to become involved in territorial disputes between Member States, however he adds, ‘ it does have a moral duty to see the rights of all Union citizens upheld. For that reason I write to seek your active involvement in persuading Spain to desist from its actions.’
In another report on Gibraltar’s current dispute with Spain, the Telegraph has carried out a poll asking for readers to vote whether Gibraltar is British or Spanish. With 725 voters claiming that Gibraltar is in fact Spanish, 4,092 correctly believe that it is British.
A local man was arrested in Laguna Estate on suspicion of handling stolen goods in the early hours Saturday following a break in at commercial premises in Laguna Estate.
Laguna Estate resident Francis Mercieca, aged 38 subsequently charged with one count of handling stolen goods, one count of possession of a controlled drug, 0.5 grams of Cannabis Resin and one count of having an article with a blade or point in a public place.
In sight of the heavy measures outlined by Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo in an attempt to seriously clamp down on frontier controls and help fishermen who Sr. Margallo claims have been affected by the implementation of an artificial reef in BGTW, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has reiterated it’s position on Gibraltar’s sovereignty, claiming that the UK will not compromise it.
The FCO adds that political difference will be resolved through political mean and not through disproportionate measures such as the border delays. The UK Government wishes to continue to have a strong relationship with the Government of Spain.