Spain’s King Felipe tells Parliament he wants talks on Gibraltar’s future ‘arrangements’ – but Rock’s Chief minister says their sovereignty is NOT up for discussion
Fabian Picardo was angry with the visiting monarch's speech but the threatened walk out by MPs failed to materialise
SPAIN’S King Felipe has told the UK Parliament he wants Madrid to have a say on the future "arrangements" for Gibraltar – prompting the Rock's Chief minister to brand him "undemocratic".
The visiting monarch had been threatened with a walkout by Tory MPs if he broached the thorny subject in his speech.
But he still used his historic address to discuss the British Overseas Territory, risking the anger of patriotic Conservatives.
Some had vowed to stage an unprecedented protest if the King dared raise Gibraltar - which could have created a major embarrassment for the Government.
But in the end his comments did not lead to a departure of MPs, despite him expressing confidence the two nations will overcome their "differences" and find a solution "acceptable to all involved".
Speaking in perfect English he said: "It is just as true, however, that during our rich and fruitful history there have also been estrangements, rivalries and disputes, but the work and determination of our governments, authorities and citizens have relegated such events to the past.
"I am certain that this resolve to overcome our differences will be even greater in the case of Gibraltar and I am confident that through the necessary dialogue and effort, our two governments will be able to work towards arrangements that are acceptable to all involved."
The comments angered the Rock’s chief minister Fabian Picardo, who said the King was harking "back to a time when the Governments in Madrid and London might make decisions over the heads of the people of Gibraltar”.
He accused the King of Spain of behaving un-democratically, adding: "territories cannot be traded from one monarch to another like pawns in a chess game."
Mr Picardo added: "We have no desire to form part of Spain or to come under Spanish sovereignty in any shape or form.
"In Gibraltar the people have spoken loud and clear. Our freely expressed democratic wishes must be respected and that means understanding Gibraltar will remain 100% British."
Speaking to The Sun after the speech he said: “A reference to three governments coming together in dialogue would have been a better one.
“We chose freely and democratically to remain British and that is the voice that must be respected.”
Mr Picardo added that sovereignty "as we are concerned is not up for discussion or negotiation."
He said: "We chose freely and democratically to remain British and that is the voice that must be respected.
“Democratic Spain must respect the democratic wishes of the people of Gibraltar.
“We will never accept given one iota of our sovereignty. It’s about the principle of consent.”
And a statement from HM Government of Gibraltar hit out: "The plain fact is that Spain lost Gibraltar over three hundred years ago and that Gibraltar has been British ever since.
"Spain ceded Gibraltar in perpetuity in 1713. In two referenda held in 1967 and 2002 the people of Gibraltar voted to remain British.
";Madrid must come to terms with these facts of history and move on."
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The Tory MP Andrew Rosindell branded the address “inappropriate”, as the British territory is “none of his business”.
He said: ";The King must realise that there will never be a discussion with him that will lead to one inch of Gibraltar being ceded to Madrid."
The Vice-Chairman of the all party group for Gibraltar added: "It is inappropriate for a visiting Head of State to talk about 'arrangements' over British territory. It’s none of his business.”
The backbencher had said ahead of the speech he was willing to walk out of the event if the Spanish King had tried to “re-open the non-negotiable issue of Gibraltar’s sovereignty”.
Mr Rosindell was in the front row this afternoon, and heard King Felipe raise the issue in the Houses of Parliament, outside which the flag of Gibraltar was on display in Parliament Square.
The MP earlier welcomed the flag's presence at Prime Minister's Questions, and urged Mrs May to remind the visiting monarch that Gibraltar is British, despite long-standing Spanish claims on the territory.
And No10 echoed his anger, saying: “We do not see eye-to-eye, our position is clear: the sovereignty of Gibraltar is not up for discussion.”
A spokesman added: “The people of Gibraltar have repeatedly and overwhelmingly expressed their wish to remain under British sovereignty and we will respect this.”
Relations between the two nations have been strained since Gibraltar was put at the heart of Brexit negotiations in April.
The EU demanded Spain get a veto over Gibraltar’s place in a future trade deal between the UK and the EU after we leave the bloc.
That prompted former Tory leader Michael Howard to call on Theresa May to go to war to defend Gibraltar in the way Margaret Thatcher protected the Falklands in 1982.
The Spanish have always been desperate to get their hands back on the 304-year-old British territory — sparking The Sun’s Hands Off Our Rock campaign.
The state visit began with King Felipe and Queen Letizia being officially greeted by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh during a ceremony of military pomp and pageantry on Horse Guards Parade this morning.
During their three-day trip the Spanish monarch and his wife will be honoured during a Buckingham Palace state banquet, with Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge expected to attend.
As well as the visit to the Palace of Westminster Felipe will also meet the Prime Minister at No10 tomorrow.
The Spanish state visit has already been postponed twice - firstly because of a political crisis in Spain in March 2016, and then again when the rescheduled date clashed with June's snap general election last month.
The 49-year-old Felipe, who is a towering 6ft 5in tall, came to the throne three years ago when his father abdicated after 40 years as king following ill health and damaging scandals, and has been billed as representing a ''new era of hope'' for Spain's monarchy.