Gibraltar absent from high-powered UK-Spanish diplomatic conference dressed up as a Spanish‘tertulia’

Again, for those who are not aware, the UK and Spain have been having these so called tertulias’ or so-called informal social gatherings supposedly to broaden their knowledge when in reality they are high-powered diplomatic conferences covering a wide-range of issues held every year in alternate national venues. However, what most people are not aware of is that the UK-Spanish Tertulia Forum came about and was established over 30 years ago mainly because of the Gibraltar problems with Spain.

More ironic, is the fact that Gibraltar has never been present or has ever been invited to attend any of the last 30 years of UK-Spanish Tertulias, including this year just up the costa road when Brexit was very much on the Tertulia Agenda.

UK Top Diplomatic Officials Spend Weekend in Malaga Tertulia – But No Gib

As host nation this year Spain rolled out the red carpet at the weekend as 170 delegates arrived only a mere 70-minute drive away in Malaga to the 30th annual Tertulia conference.

From the United Kingdom, considering the UK practically in Political Brexit meltdown, in flew a very high-powered UK delegation. British political figures included David Lidington, Minister for the Cabinet Office Theresa May’s unofficial No 2 together with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster; Alan Duncan, Minister of State for Europe and the Americas; Nick Gibb, Minister of State at the Department for Education; Baroness Williams, Minister of State at the Home Office and Earl Howe, Minister of State for Defence, Caroline Wilson FCO Europe director and of course, UK Ambassador in Spain Simon Manley, among others from the United Kingdom including influential other decision-makers from the field of academia, business and finance.

The Spanish side matched that of their UK counterparts for political actors who also arrived to take part in this last ‘Tertulia’ before Brexit, which was obviously at the top of the agenda? Quite a powerful political gathering for a social gathering if you believe the definition is appropriate for the participants who arrived to ‘Tertuliarate’ with each other.

Coinciding with the conference the UK even sent HMS Echo, the Royal Navy survey ship, which docked in Malaga port just before the conference formalities got under way

Commenting on the presence of the British Military in Malaga UK Ambassador Simon Manley said: “the arrival of HMS Echo in Malaga showcases the depth and breadth of our bilateral cooperation on defence and security, which is the crown jewel of the relationship between the UK and Spain. Our countries face common challenges and close collaboration helps keep our citizens safe. I am delighted that these are among the issues that we are debating in Malaga at the 30th British Spanish Tertulias, our most important bilateral forum”

Manley has obviously gone ‘Tertuliarating Mad’ or Brexit has affected him hard. How can the Ambassador seriously say that with the arrival in Malaga of HMS Echo a hydrographic survey ship of any of the UK’s powerful military vessel asset ‘showcases the depth and breadth of UK-Spanish bilateral cooperation on defence and security, and the crown jewel of the relationship between the UK and Spain’? What utter creep-arse diplomatic rubbish from Manley. The man definitely needs to detox from Spanish inspirational thoughts and requires extended home leave.

Gibraltar has never attended any of the yearly ‘Tertulia’ Conferences’ even though as stated already, the problems between the UK and Spain was the original reason the forum was established in 1988.

However, Panorama understands from informed sources that because Gibraltar had featured prominently in recent Brexit UK/Spanish negotiations, yet to be finalised, particularly on the much talked about practical or memoranda issues. And because of the so-called improved period of dialogue during these negotiations, it was expected that for the first time Gibraltar would be invited to send a political representation, bearing in mind the close proximity of Malaga the conference venue.

30-10-18 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR