Any country, ladies and gentlemen, who has been trying unsuccessfully for three hundred years, to achieve the sovereignty of another country, should have realized by now that it is flogging a dead horse. What is it about the Spanish, which does not allow them to see this, or understand why they are failing and always will, on this question? Joint sovereignty will never come about and no exchange will ever take place; let alone a grab for our territory as in days of old; because we are no longer living in the 18th century.

Trust our own

We in turn, must not continue to become anxious by any Spanish press releases that are contrary to what we have been told, either by our own leaders, or indeed the UK. We have to learn to trust in our own but never losing sight of the fact that now, more than ever before, we must to urge the UK Government to put our house in order, concerning certain matters that still, whatever Whitehall may wish to say, concern us deeply i.e. our BGTW‘s and Representation in Westminster.

If truth be told, these concerns of ours are easily within the remit of the UK Government. For in the same way as Mrs. Theresa May has done right by us in the withdrawal agreement, despite Spain having an almighty tantrum, she can do the same again. Whatever the outcome of the present melee in the UK Parliament; indeed despite this, we have to press on. Spain has been put on alert re Gibraltar, and now, as Magnus Magnusson on the TV programme Master Mind says, “I’ve started so I’ll finish.” Something rather unexpected but very important for us has been started in Brussels, and now the impetus must continue till we reach the end post.

Spain’s fatigue

According to the OECD, Spain is in a state of flux and it has been noted that the rhythm of growth of the Spanish economy is showing signs of fatigue. When a country is in political turmoil it can turn like a wounded animal and bite you on the neck; but at the same time one can use this apparent political instability to take forceful action. As the sea retrieves its waters from much of Spain’s illegal coastline, so must the UK take what belongs to it and claim its twelve nautical miles. Phrases come to mind like “striking whilst the iron’s hot” etc. because Spain is in its worst political disarray for a very long time and like a huge unattended creeper, the people’s unrest and discontent is sprouting myriad offshoots; some even with aspirations of wanting to see Spain as a federal state.

In the same manner as there are many autonomous regions in Spain, there happen to be many different Spains; that of the PSOE, the PP, Podemos, Ciudadanos and now Vox. The Party Vox which has got its foot through the door; albeit the door is only at present a quarter open; has much in common with the Carlists, whose dreams of putting the clock back to the eighteenth century included restoring traditional local rights and privileges. These include renewed threats of frontier closures; throwing out illegal immigrants; bringing back old traditions which have been facing some resistance of late, like blood sports and hunting without any contemplation.

Spain is a country that clings tenaciously to its traditions. Its favourite sport is hunting; however cruel the method, they slaughter the creatures with impunity; with bulls being used as dart boards until they are finally shot; or watching bulls burn alive as they are dragged down the streets with flaming balls attached to their horns; many of these forming part of religious festivals. Before long the “Toro De La Vega” will once again become a national sport. The most disgraceful traditions watched by hundreds in their towns, make Spain the country in Europe with more animal cruelty than any other. Vox is feeding such an appetite.

The thing here is not the group in itself, however unattractive and retrograde its mentality. The real danger and worrying factor here are the reasons why a people should vote for them in much bigger numbers than ever before, which has brought them from their semi dormant stage, on to the main political arena.

This is like an incipient tumour which manifests itself in a people who are angry and feel let down and see their inner fury mirrored far more succinctly in this far right movement. Is this a fly by night party? I don’t think so, because things being what they are at present, there are no clear leaders at elections held in Spain, and marriages are the order of the day.

Volatile

I believe that with the simple emergence of the far right at this point in time, Spain shows itself to be far more volatile and more unpredictable than ever before and this for us is dangerous. This is why we must be very stubborn in our pursuit and not allow this moment to grind to a halt. The UK and us both, have to send the right message to Spain. We must be the ones to now say to them “The party’s over,” and take what’s ours, while we still can.

17-12-18 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR