Gibraltar chief minister slams Spain’s claim to the Rock as ‘medieval and rancid’

Speaking to LBC after it emerged the European Union had given Spain a veto right over any future deal between the bloc and the UK that would affect Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo suggested the nation would do “anything” to secure their claim. 

Asked about if he was upset Theresa May had not mentioned Gibraltar in the Article 50 letter, Mr Picardo responded it was a ”tactical” move. 

The Minister also said the Rock was “fully involved in that process”, as he added: “We have been a part of the process of consultation in the preparation of that letter.”

Mr Picardo continued: “”What I think people have found upsetting is this ‘.22’ in the draft, and I emphasise the use of the word ‘draft’, guidelines that Mr Tusk published yesterday [Friday].

“I think what’s upsetting is not that Spain should have sought to include us there, because Spain is obsessed with Gibraltar, she’ll do anything possible to try and advance her rancid and medieval claim to Gibraltar. 

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Fabian Picardo branded Spain’s claim to Gibraltar as ‘medieval and rancid’

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“It’s that there are other European partners like the Maltese, the Irish, the Scandinavians, the Germans, that know that Spain will always try and use the European Union to advance its claim to Gibraltar. 

“It’s that they should have allowed this to have crept in. Look it’s implicit in the negotiation that we’re going to have to talk to Spain about the relationship going forward. 

“We want to have those discussions. But to mortgage or hypothecate Gibraltar’s future potential participation in any trade deal the UK may do with the European Union, which may or may not be relevant to Gibraltar when the time comes and we seal the deal, to having to agree that with Spain, is really very ungenerous.” 

On Friday it emerged Spain secured a veto over the rock’s participation in any future deal between the EU and the UK.

[Spain] will do anything possible to try and advance her rancid and medieval claim to Gibraltar

Fabian Picardo

In a huge diplomatic victory for Madrid, the other 27 states have agreed that it will be able to block any trade agreement secured with Britain from applying to Gibraltar. 

Speaking after the news emerged, the Minister hit out against the EU’s decision to allow Madrid “to discriminate against the British people of Gibraltar” by allowing them to veto any trade agreement secured with Britain from applying to the Rock.

Mr Picardo said: “Gibraltar is not going to be a political pawn in Brexit, neither is it going to be a victim of Brexit.

“Gibraltar is going to be very prosperous, very successful and entirely British before, during and after Brexit.”

On Saturday, the President of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce, slammed the EU’s decision as he branded Spain “Europe’s most corrupt country”. 

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Christian Hernandez said: “Frankly it’s not surprising to us in Gibraltar.

“Really what can you expect from Europe’s most corrupt country? They have a history of using Gibraltar to deflect from their own internal problems of which they have had many over the last couple of years and they continue to have lots of internal problems.

“We see this as an attempt by them to use the Gibraltar card to be able to claim a diplomatic triumph.”