David Cameron dangers ceding British sovereignty along with his Gibraltar deal, Tory MPs have warned.
Conservative MPs stated the likelihood that EU border checks could possibly be carried out on the Rock’s airport, which doubles as an RAF station, is “unacceptable” and dangers a “backlash” if there may be “any kind of sellout”.
A senior Tory MP advised the Sunday Telegraph: “I’m concerned about it. The principal issue is one of sovereignty and control.
“Half of the world’s shipping passes through the Straits of Gibraltar. It’s therefore essential that we should have proper control of what happens there.
“The proposals that we’ve got which include having Schengen border guards at the airport are really unacceptable.
“If you haven’t got sole control over the access to your own territory, which is what would be the case if they had Schengen border officials in the airport, then your sovereignty has clearly been compromised.
“We need to ensure that British sovereignty is maintained and the security of the Rock is maintained… If we compromise on that it’s going to be absolutely disastrous, simply because it is literally one of the most important military strategic assets in the world. It’s hard to think of anything that’s more strategically important.”
They stated that Conservative MPs have been “particularly concerned about it”, including: “If they feel that anything is being done that’s going to compromise the sovereignty of Gibraltar there will be a very adverse backlash.”
Another Tory MP stated: “The worry obviously is any kind of sellout… anything that gives an inch or the idea that we’re not fully in control of who goes in and out.”
It comes after Lord Cameron held additional talks on the way forward for the British Overseas Territory with shares a border with Spain throughout a go to to Brussels final Thursday.
The Foreign Secretary met European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic, Spanish overseas minister Jose Manuel Albares and Gibraltar chief minister Fabian Picardo for a second spherical of discussions concerning the territory’s relationship with the EU.
The nature of that relationship stays unresolved following Brexit, with guidelines governing Gibraltar’s border with Spain understood to be a serious sticking level.
A joint assertion issued after the talks stated they led to “important breakthroughs” with a ultimate settlement “getting closer”.
Mr Picardo additionally insisted it was “wrong” to counsel that the deal would “in any way affect British sovereignty”.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman stated: “As the chief minister of Gibraltar has said, it is wrong to suggest that this deal in any way affects British sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over Gibraltar.
“The UK will only reach an agreement with the EU: which the government of Gibraltar is content with; safeguards Gibraltar’s sovereignty; and fully protects the operations and independence of the UK’s military facilities in Gibraltar.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1901008/david-cameron-gibraltar-brexit-conservatives