Gibraltar vote is unacceptable and undermines the EU

The footnote was added at a late stage to a report exempting UK citizens from the need to obtain visas when travelling into the Schenghen Area in the event of a no-deal Brexit. It states that "Gibraltar is a colony of the British Crown" and that "there is a controversy between Spain and the United Kingdom concerning the sovereignty over Gibraltar, a territory for which a solution has to be reached."

The Parliament initially opposed the addition and the report's lead MEP, or rapporteur, UK Labour MEP Claude Moraes, proposed several compromise solutions. All were rejected by the Council and earlier this week Mr Moraes was stripped of the rapporteurship by fellow MEPs amidst claims his nationality made it impossible for him to be impartial. Conservatives strongly opposed his removal.

Speaking after the report was approved by MEPs yesterday morning, Mr Dalton said: "This politically motivated affair undermines the EU's standing as a union that claims to champion democracy, self-determination and human rights around the world. It has allowed the Spanish government to hijack European legislation for its own ends as it heads into a difficult domestic election.

"It is vitally important that we protect the right of UK and EU citizens to continue travelling visa-free in the event of a no deal Brexit. But we cou= ld not vote for this report and accept a claim on part of our territory. The people of both Britain and Gibraltar would have expected nothing less of us."

Conservative delegation leader and Gibraltar MEP Ashley Fox, who unsuccessfully called for the vote to be delayed, said: "Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory with its own government, not a colony. And its people have made it crystal clear that is how they want to remain.

"Spain and the EU can posture all they like, but Gibraltar's sovereignty is not negotiable. It is disappointing they were willing to jeopardise their citizens' right to visa-free travel post-Brexit in order to make this futile gesture."

Julie Girling stands up for the electors of Gibraltar and the procedures of the European Parliament

In the voting session at the European Parliament, Julie Girling moved an amendment aimed at deleting references to Gibraltar as a colony.

The offensive language was included in a report aimed at giving visa free travel to UK citizens after Brexit. Shockingly, the initial MEP in charge of the legislation - Brit, Claude Moraes - was removed from the report following procedural shenanigans.

Mrs Girling argued that 'Parliament had colluded at the highest level to replace a legitimately agreed text' and that the process had been 'hijacked by a politically motivated intervention from Spain'.

While the amendment was unsuccessful, significant support was garnered across the House and the point was made clear. However, Mrs Girling highlighted her concern that if the UK leaves the EU, there is a real possibility of Gibraltar becoming the target of an unrestrained Madrid.

05-04-19 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR