WHAT NEXT?

So, where do we go from here?

The Liberal Democrats, and indeed the Gibraltar Liberal Party, were associated with remaining in Europe, so the question that arises is to what extent was the Gibraltar vote symptomatic of Gibraltar wanting to stay in Europe?

The Brexit issue did not arise until the referendum in 2016, yet two years earlier at the previous EuroElection, the Liberal Democrats also topped the poll in Gibraltar with 67% of the vote.

What matters now is to recognise that the overall UK result was a clear swing to Brexit, with The Brexit Party obtaining a lead in all but one of the regions there. This will strengthen the prospect of a No Deal Brexit, as does the possibility of Boris Johnson becoming Britain's next Prime Minister. The former Foreign Secretary, who has always been supportive of Gibraltar, is not afraid of a No Deal Brexit which could well be the option remaining when the October exit deadline is reached.

Concern of what could flow from a No Deal scenario is already causing concern in the wider EU because of the repercussions that could ensue, already there are member states seeking reform which could put the brakes on the so-called European super-state dream, which could well become a nightmare - and sooner than anyone expected.

Instead of Britain showing weakness when facing the EU, it could well be that a position of strength flowing from the Nigel Farage success and the prospect of Boris Johnson at No.10 will urge the EU to adopt more reasonable postures in the interests of all.

The alternative might cause certain problems in the British family, but it could possibly lead to a break-up of the EU as we know it today, as sources in Brussels are already suggesting.

The lesson for Gibraltar is that we have to face and accept the reality of situations, because to begin with, we may have to understand that unless Brexit gets sorted out in the first place, nothing else will follow. We cannot get ourselves embroiled in issues that can be described as putting the cart before the horse.

This does not mean rejecting claims that, in improved and stable circumstances, could be deemed to be fair and reasonable - but how can we, for example, agree to increase the RGP manning levels by a massive 50 personnel when we do not know if we will be able to deliver at this point in time? It is a question of getting priorities right in the uncertain times we live in.

There was the Government's economics guru Sir Joe Bossano warning a year ago that the public sector was unsustainable given the uncertain times ahead. He even went on to suggest that greater efficiency was required to improve value for money and service ' for the same or less cost.'

Should we not consider what the economics minister was saying before rushing into anything? After all, this is someone with a trade union background and tradition behind him.

Meanwhile, the move to Malta of a major betting company will represent a reduction in revenue for the Government's coffers - but in some sectors we seem to be immune of such serious developments, even though in the Campo area such a development is already causing concern.

Indeed, the spectre of a No Deal Brexit haunts them, and perhaps the changing political scene in Britain might make the Spanish Government - now that the PSOE has strengthened its hand in the wake of the Spanish elections - adopt policies to Gibraltar that are reasonable because, if their aim is to destroy us, they could well destroy themselves.

28-05-19 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR