David Lammy has sparked fury after pledging a new deal on Gibraltar with the European Union, with critics all saying the same thing in response.
The Foreign Secretary posted a tweet last night as he continues to ‘reset ties with Europe’.
Mr Lammy said he had welcomed Spain’s foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares to London, where they “covered the full spectrum of our vital partnership”.
He then added: “We also looked ahead to meeting in Brussels later this week to seek to progress a deal on Gibraltar alongside [chief minister Fabian Picardo] and [EU Commission Vice-President] Maros Sefcovic.”
The pledge to pass a new deal on the British Overseas Territory sparked anger among Tories, with leadership contender Tom Tugendhat fuming: “What deal are you looking for in Gibraltar?”
“It’s British. Deal done.”
Former advisor to Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi James Price agreed, echoing: “Why do we need a deal on Gibraltar? It’s British.”
Conservative writer Ed McGuinness agreed: “Gibraltar is unequivocally British. There isn’t a “deal” to be spoken of…”
Another X user commented: “Good grief. What next, the Falklands?”
In July, David Lammy reaffirmed the Government’s “double-lock” commitment on Gibraltar’s British sovereignty during his first phone call with Mr Picardo.
Discussions have been ongoing around a UK-EU agreement for some time, with Lord Cameron visiting the territory in April to conclude a UK-EU deal to “secure the future prosperity of the whole region”.
The then-Tory agreement planned to “bring confidence, legal certainty and stability to the lives and livelihoods of the people of the whole region, without prejudice to the parties’ legal positions.”
Negotiators for the treaty will hold a four-way political summit in Brussels this Thursday, and will bring together Mr Lammy, Mr Albares , Mr Sefcovic and Mr Picardo.
Ahead of the meeting, Chief Minister Picardo said: “I look forward to continuing the work of seeking agreement for a UK / EU Treaty on Gibraltar’s future relationship with the EU,”
“We still have technical issues to resolve but I remain optimistic that a safe and secure agreement is possible that will be beneficial to all and that will bring renewed and enhanced prosperity to the whole region.”
Mr Lammy has also pledged to discuss “the full spectrum of the UK-Spain bilateral relationship”.
He added he is “keen to understand” first hand Spain’s position on Gibraltar.
However an FCDO spokesman has promised: “There will be no negotiations with respect to Gibraltar on Monday, or at any meeting with the Spanish at which the Government of Gibraltar is not present.
