I believe there would be huge problems created in the Britain itself and across Europe if the UK voted to leave the EU
But those real difficulties could be most acutely felt in Gibraltar. That is why I am fervently supporting David Cameron’s campaign for the UK and Gibraltar to remain in the EU.
We have already seen too often how Gibraltar can suffer when Spanish governments start sabre-rattling to distract attention from domestic difficulties. How much worse could that become if Madrid felt the UK and Gibraltar had isolated and excluded themselves from the European club and its rules-based system.
Only last month, a cross-party committee of British MEPs issued a warning that Gibraltar would be cut off and undermined by Spain if Britain left the EU.
That report from the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee should be a wake-up call to anyone who thinks quitting the EU will be consequence free.
In fact leaving would not only diminish the UK’s own prospects and standing, but also harm our friends in so many ways that people do not automatically consider.
The committee heard evidence from Gibraltar’s Government that the peninsula’s shipping trade, online gaming industry and finance sector could all be damaged by Brexit.
And it said Spain would take advantage of any renegotiation in order to further undermine, isolate and exclude Gibraltar from the European mainstream.
A “Leave” vote would lead to “tremendous uncertainty”, it said. After all, it found, Spain’s tactic of causing border delays was only moderated by EU rules over free movement of people.
The report concluded: “No doubt, without those EU rules, the border could become a wall and the general position would be intolerable.”
I say there can be no doubt that Spain would see Brexit as an invitation to pile on the agony for Gibraltar.
If Britain were to leave I understand that the Gibraltar first minister wants to explore whether there is any way it could negotiate its own arrangement with the EU. Whether that would be possible – and what kind of relationship could be negotiated if the UK had left – I simply do not know.
But I certainly think it is sensible for the Gibraltar Government to consider its options. I would be interested to hear any suggestions there may be regarding the future for Gibraltar should Britain vote to leave – but I sincerely hope it never comes to that.
It always seems strange to me that many politicians who would vocally proclaim themselves to be friends of Gibraltar are also enthusiastic proponents of Brexit. For me the two positions are contradictory when Gibraltar’s best interests are so clearly linked to Eu membership.
Rest assured that I am working as hard as possible to ensure that Gibraltar does not find itself such an invidious position.
These are grave concerns. I will do all I can to stick up for my electorate – in England and in Gibraltar – but the surest way of doing right by them is to keep Britain inside a reformed EU.
