British sovereignty over Gibraltar sacrosanct, says David Lammy
British sovereignty over Gibraltar remains "sacrosanct", the foreign secretary has said, after the UK agreed a deal with the European Union over the territory's post-Brexit future.David Lammy told the House of Commons the agreement included a clause "explicitly protecting our sovereignty".The deal removes checks on people and goods crossing the Gibraltar-Spain border.However, some MPs raised concerns Spanish border officials would be able to deny entry to UK citizens flying into the British Overseas Territory.
For travellers arriving at Gibraltar airport, passport checks will be carried out by both Gibraltarian and Spanish officials.This is similar to the system in place for Eurostar passengers at London's St Pancras station, where travellers pass through both British and French passport control before boarding international trains.This means it will be possible for arrivals to continue their travel from Gibraltar into Spain and the rest of the EU without further checks.But Lammy insisted Gibraltar would not be joining the Schengen free travel area - 26 European states that have abolished passport control at their mutual border so people can travel freely. Schengen countries also have common rules on asylum and countries whose nationals require visas. Lammy said it was "fake news" that Gibraltar would be joining Schengen and "this was never on the table". "Immigration, policing and justice in Gibraltar will remain the responsibilities of Gibraltar's authorities," he added.
Talks on the rules governing the border between Spain and Gibraltar - a 2.6 square mile headland to the south of the country - have been ongoing since the UK left the EU in 2020.The issue had been a key sticking point, which has remained unresolved since Brexit.MPs broadly welcomed the deal, which has been hailed as "historic" by Gibraltar, Spain and the EU. Giving a statement in the Commons, Lammy said Labour was "solving the problems leftover from the last [Conservative] government and their thin Brexit deal". He added that the deal "removes another obstacle to closer ties with our EU friends" and "provides much needed certainty for people and businesses in Gibraltar". An estimated 15,000 people cross the Gibraltar-Spain border every day for work and leisure.Currently, Gibraltar residents can cross using residence cards without needing to have their passports stamped, while Spanish citizens can cross using a government ID card.But there were concerns this would end with the introduction of the EU's Entry/Exit system later this year, causing huge delays at the border.Lammy said without a deal every passport and all goods would need to be checked leading to "chaos and backlogs, endangering livelihoods of British citizens in Gibraltar, wrecking the territory's economy and possibly costing hundreds of billions of pounds a year, placing pressure ultimately on the UK taxpayer to pick up the bill".
The next step is for a full legal text to be finalised, which Lammy said all parties were "committed to completing as quickly as possible". The Conservatives have said they will examine the the final treaty to ensure it meets their red lines, including that it safeguards the sovereignty and rights of Gibraltarians.Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel also questioned whether Spanish officers would be able to stop British citizens coming to stay in Gibraltar. Lammy insisted the only difference to what Conservative ministers had previously been negotiating was the sovereignty clause, which he said would ensure there was no question over Gibraltar's status.The UK has had sovereignty over Gibraltar since 1713, although this is disputed by Spain, who claim the territory as their own.Public opinion in Gibraltar, which has a population of around 32,000, is in favour of keeping British sovereignty. The most recent referendum, held in 2002, saw almost 99% of voters reject a proposal to share sovereignty with Spain.The UK said there would also be full operational autonomy for the UK's military's facilities in Gibraltar, where the airport is run by the Ministry of Defence and hosts an RAF base.Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Helen Maguire welcomed the agreement, while calling for Parliament to get the opportunity to scrutinise and vote on it.However, Reform UK have described the deal as a "surrender". Deputy leader Richard Tice raised concerns Spanish border officials would have "an effective veto" on British citizens from the UK landing in Gibraltar.Lammy clarified that if there was an alert in relation to an arrival Spanish border guards and police would work alongside Gibraltarian police. An individual would have the right to legal advice and be able to either return to their country of origin or go to Spain to face questions.
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Sky News
30 minutes ago
- Sky News
PR-savvy and now finally a knight - Beckham always knew how to turn on the charm
A sporting icon courted by prime ministers past and present, newly knighted Sir David Beckham is renowned for being extremely media savvy. Never more so than when I interviewed him for Sky News at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, after he took part in the closing ceremony having played a key role in London's winning bid to host the 2012 Games. Speaking about Sir Alex Ferguson in the interview, canny Sir Becks heaped praise on his old boss in our interview. But he'd been less complimentary about his old boss in a conversation with prime minister Gordon Brown, I later learned. I'd travelled to Beijing with Mr Brown, via Afghanistan, and we spent the final evening of the Games at the handover party, when Boris Johnson - then London mayor - famously spoke in his speech about "wiff waff" (table tennis) coming home. During his Beijing visit, Mr Brown had been promoting the idea of a Great Britain football team competing at the 2012 Games and there was speculation about Sir Alex being the team's coach. "Aah, Sir Alex," Becks said wistfully and apparently affectionately when I asked him about being re-united with his former Manchester United manager during the interview. "Like a father to me." Later, on the flight home to the UK, when I told Gordon Brown about the interview, the prime minister laughed. "That's funny," he said. "Why?" I asked him. Beckham played for Fergie at Manchester United from 1995 until 2003, when he joined Real Madrid amid claims that Ferguson disapproved of the player's showbiz lifestyle. By 2008 he was playing for LA Galaxy in the US. But despite his canny, PR-savvy answers in my interview, I saw him work the room that night in Beijing and glad-hand relentlessly. He gave every interview asked of him and turned on the charm on behalf of UK PLC to everyone present. For politicians and prime ministers, sportsmen and women like Beckham are pure gold. David Cameron was also a fan and was photographed sitting alongside Becks at the London Games. When "Goldenballs", as wife Victoria called him, retired from football a year later, a No 10 spokesman gushed: "The prime minister's view is that David Beckham has been an outstanding footballer throughout his career. "But not only that, he has been a brilliant ambassador for this country, not least if we remember all the work he did on helping us win London 2012." There was indeed a Great Britain men's football team at the Olympics, but it was coached by former England legend Stuart Pearce, not Sir Alex. And Pearce, nicknamed "psycho" for his aggressive style on the pitch, didn't pick Becks either, though he claimed he'd faced pressure from Downing Street to include him. Then in 2017, David Cameron's former spin doctor Craig Oliver claimed a senior Tory cabinet minister - thought to have been George Osborne - suggested giving Becks a peerage and appointing him sports minister in a 2013 cabinet reshuffle. That never happened either, obviously, though at least now David Beckham is also a knight - just like his "father figure" Sir Alex.
![In an area of shrubland near to the main public hospital, a shanty town of wooden huts draped with tarpaulins heats up in the Ibiza sun. The backdrop of the island's beautiful Old Town is just a mile or so in the distance, but feels like a world away. Here at this makeshift camp in Sa Joveria, not far from the popular beach and party resort of Playa d'en Bossa, dozens of people are living with no electricity, no running water, no waste services, sharing spaces covering just a few square feet. It is the side to Ibiza most do not see. Behind the island's glitz and glamour lies a growing inequality crisis; reports of essential workers such as police officers among those staying in camps, living with friends or family, or even commuting from Majorca due to spiralling living costs fuelled in part by record-high tourism. This weekend, protests against over-tourism are planned across Ibiza, Majorca and areas of mainland Spain, following similar demonstrations last year. "We say enough to the destruction of the territory, to the precariousness, to the housing crisis, to the loss of rights," says the Menys Turisme Mes Vida (Less Tourism More Life) campaign group. Protests in Ibiza in September 2024 Protests in Ibiza in September 2024"I know one person working two different jobs but living in a tent. Someone else paying 850 euros for a single room, now possibly having to share it because the landlord wants to put a bunk bed in... People sleeping on balconies, paying 500 euros a month. There are key workers desperate for accommodation, doctors pleading - I work in a hospital saving lives and I have nowhere to live." Ibiza resident In the camps in Ibiza, many people are nervous about speaking out. But Mohammed, from the territory of Western Sahara, invites us in. He tells us he works in construction and has been on the island for two-and-a-half years. He never expected to be living like this in Ibiza, he says. "It is hard. But it is better than living on the street." The 32-year-old is just one of an increasing number of local and foreign workers the island relies on, unable to afford space in a bedroom, let alone an apartment or a house. A friend pours out small glasses of traditional tea for us to sip as they huddle around a small table. The disparity between the wealth surrounding the area and the conditions they are living in is obvious, Mohammed acknowledges. "But what are you going to do?" Image captions HIPPIES TO THE SUPER RICH Millions of tourists head to the Balearic Islands each year. Like its neighbours Majorca and Menorca, Ibiza has the sun, sea and sand, but most who visit will tell you there is something more that draws them here. From the creatives escaping Franco's Spain in the 1930s to the hippies who set up in the 1960s, the White Isle has long been a haven for the unconventional, and many still come for the anything goes ethos. People are also here to party. Pacha, the island's first nightclub, opened in 1973 - and Wham!'s Club Tropicana video in 1983, filmed at the famous Pikes Hotel, cemented its party reputation. In recent years, Ibiza has increasingly become a luxury playground for the rich, with superyachts worth millions among the boats in the waters of Ibiza Town's port, and Instagrammable superclubs boasting VIP tables costing thousands of euros to secure. Tourism accounts for about 84% of the economy and is vital for the island, with tourist spending reaching 4.3bn euros in 2024, according to the Balearic Institute of Statistics (IBESTAT) - an increase of 62% since 2016. The number of tourists reached a record high of more than 3.7m for Ibiza and neighbouring Formentera in 2023 – an increase of almost 25% since 2016. Flights have also increased dramatically since the turn of the millennium, from just over 25,000 in 2000 to a record 66,000 scheduled this year, according to flights database OAG. Almost a fifth (18%) of these are from the UK - the biggest share after internal flights from the rest of Spain. Many residents and workers say the numbers have become unsustainable - that the island is at "breaking point". Environmental campaigners highlight beach closures due to sewage in recent years, while housing is a major issue across Spain generally as it struggles to balance a key driver of its economy with concerns over high rents due to gentrification, landlords shifting to more lucrative, short-term rentals or even leaving properties empty, and illegal sub-letting. Ibiza seems to be one of the places feeling this acutely. On property site Idealista, rooms in shared apartments have been advertised for 1,500 euros a month - we even found one advertised for the month of August for 4,000 euros. In the peak summer months in 2024, the cost of renting in the Balearic Islands was up by more than 20% year on 2023, according to the site, and the trend looks set to continue this summer. A recent Bank of Spain report said the country has a shortfall of 450,000 homes - and in the tourist hotspots such as the Balearics and Canary Islands, half the housing stock is tourist accommodation or properties owned by non-residents, it found. Authorities are putting measures in place to try and curb the problem. Heavy fines have reportedly been introduced for those not complying with laws, and in February, Consell d'Eivissa (Ibiza's island council) announced a deal with AirBnB to crack down on unregulated holiday lettings on its platform. Sky News understands more than 450 listings have been removed already as a result. A plan to limit cruise ship arrivals was announced last year, and new rules restricting the numbers of tourist cars and caravans during peak months also came into force at the beginning of June. But is it enough? Image captions 'MORE LUXURY, MORE EXPENSIVE' Jane Cull, an English teacher in a language school who has lived on the island for several years, has been staying with a friend while she finishes the term, after being told to leave her apartment at short notice."I've been running around almost begging and feeling really humiliated, asking everybody I've ever known on the island if they can help me," she says. "Over the last few years, it's become increasingly difficult, because what you'd pay before for a whole apartment is what a lot of people are [now] paying for a room. And if you do find a room that's reasonably priced in the winter time, then you're kind of pushed out in the summer season, which has happened to me and many other teachers I know." Teacher Jane Cull Teacher Jane Cull She now faces a search for somewhere more permanent for the new term in September, which she says will be difficult as it is still a busy month for tourism. The island has changed, she says, but there is still much about it she loves."I love the hippie kind of vibe and the history... but as time has gone on it's got very commercial," she says. "More fast-moving, more expensive, more luxury. It's changed a lot. I think that's part of life, around the world, but it's difficult to accept, especially if you planned your life until retirement here.""I am nearly 30 and live with my grandmother, husband and two children. We are used to tourists here and like tourists, but in the last few years things have become much more expensive. My friend still lives with her parents. We cannot be independent because we cannot afford to rent." Ibiza resident Dean Gallagher, who works several jobs - in teaching, property management, DJing and, most famously , snake catching - has been living here for 22 years."There's lots of colourful people here and it's very liberal and laid-back, very progressive. You can walk down the street and bump into literally anyone - celebrities, hippies, DJs, and [in the north] it's very calm and quiet and peaceful. It's not all about intense hedonism." But he says the housing problem needs to be addressed. He rents a "humble" property but says he would find it impossible to buy even a studio flat, despite working several jobs."Over the last six or seven years, I've seen rents literally double... I know people, key workers, affected by this, people we really need for security, for healthcare, and they're living in terrible conditions, some of them... Ibiza's a popular island, I understand that, but key workers need a place to live.""People are really struggling. I think there needs to be a balance. Wealthy people can come here and buy, but they also need to give something." Even the invasive snakes he is known for catching on the island are a symptom of the problem, he says. "When people move here... they've brought palm trees and moreover olive trees from the mainland, which unfortunately had a few stowaways. Those stowaways were snake eggs. They hatched here, multiplied, and now the island is plagued with them." Property manager and snake catcher Dean Gallagher Property manager and snake catcher Dean Gallagher Many property owners choose to rent to tourists or even keep homes empty over letting long-term, he says, to avoid the risk of tenants potentially not paying rent, and the complications that come with that. AirBnB, which is working with authorities on lettings breaking rules, also says empty homes are the biggest problem. Short-term lets have decreased by almost 29% in the last four years, a spokesperson said - " whereas there are now four times more empty homes than tourist homes in Ibiza". Ibiza, like most other small islands, has a "very delicate ecosystem", Dean adds. "And over-building and over-decadence can cause problems in very delicate ecosystems. If [Ibiza] gets too up to date with the rest of the world, [it becomes] a lot like a rich neighbourhood in a big city, then it's kind of losing its specialness. I think everyone is entitled to progress and make money, but we do need to conserve what's really special about this place." Image captions ' WEALTH, FAME - IT ATTRACTS CRIME' For police officer Rafael Gimenez, who was born and raised in Ibiza, the spiralling cost of living became too much. After three years of policing here, he moved to Aragon, in mainland Spain, at the end of 2023, with his wife and two sons."The quality of life has dropped dramatically for residents especially," he says. "I have two children and I believe that for the moment, how Ibiza is, I cannot give them a good quality of life here." Police officer Rafael Gimenez Police officer Rafael Gimenez The island is not big enough to sustain the level of tourism it sees now, he says."I think the core issue is [tourism] massification because along with massification comes everything – the rising prices, the collapse of infrastructures, environmental issues, like a lack of water supply for people, the destruction of the natural environment." He says he also felt there were issues with tackling crime. In recent years, there have been reports of criminals targeting the wealthy and luxury accommodation - such as in 2024, when three people suspected of being part of a criminal gang targeting villas, including one rented by British broadcaster Nick Grimshaw, were arrested by Spanish authorities."Ibiza is attracting a lot people who are very wealthy, a lot of famous people, and of course that attracts the attention of criminal organisations. I was experiencing a lot of alerts regarding breaking into houses, violent robberies of watches, and of course this means that Ibiza as well is becoming like a criminal organisation's place of operations." Protests in April 2025 Protests in April 2025 Gimenez and his mother, Xaquelina Ana Perry, are members of Prou Eivissa (Enough Ibiza), a campaign group calling for an end to overtourism. She says the accommodation crisis is now "really out of control", and like others we spoke to, says she is aware of hotel workers, sanitary workers and even police officers living in camps in recent years."The island relies on these workers, doesn't it?" she says. "We need people to serve the restaurants, clean the hotels, we need teachers. But if there's no accommodation, [some have] got no choice but to live like this, to earn a living." Prou Eivissa, she stresses, is not about against the tourism that for many years ran in sync with the island. "What we are is against the [current] model of tourism and the massification of tourism, because this island is beautiful." Image captions WHAT IS BEING DONE? Fines In April, the island's council said it continued its "unprecedented fight" against illegal tourist lettings. More staff are being hired to pursue and process sanctions against illegal rentals, it said - with potential fines going up to 500,000 euros. AirBnB deal AirBnB has said implementing mandatory registration for all new short-term rental listings is a testament to its commitment to Ibiza, "promoting responsible accommodation and ensuring locals share in the tourist economy". Booking.com The site says it works with authorities in Ibiza to combat illegal listings "and foster a transparent tourism ecosystem". A spokesperson said this would continue to "make tourism a positive force for the island". Cruise ships According to IbizaPreservation, 188 cruise ships arrived at Ibiza port in 2023. In September 2024, the island's council said it would limit numbers to allow no more than two to dock at any one time. Vehicle limit A cap of 20,168 on non-resident vehicles is now in force until September, to "correct an unsustainable situation" of exponential growth over the last 25 years, the island council has said. 'I SERVE THE RICH' At a camp in Es Gorg, also near to Playa d'en Bossa and the OId Town, the scene is different to Sa Joveria. Here, dozens of people are living in vans, caravans and campervans, rather than huts. One man, Charlie, 48, from Seville, is a children's entertainer by day and cleans the streets overnight, working until about 4am. With his little dog entertaining with tricks, he tells us he does not want to pay "really expensive rent" - having seen balconies rented for people to sleep on for 700 euros - and is happy here in his caravan, living a more nomadic lifestyle."Ibiza has a kind of special energy," he says. "What makes me happy is I don't have to pay 700 euros. I can go and spend my money wherever I want, and this is what makes me feel happy. I don't have any trouble." Victor (pictured below), a 28-year-old father who lives in a van nearby with his wife and young daughter, says his situation is more complicated. He is Colombian, but has lived here for a year. "I work here in the Old Town, serving the rich," he says. "My question is: if we are not here, who will serve these people?" He is keen to tell us there are no "bad people" at the camp - something workers at Sa Joveria were also keen to stress - and that he pays taxes. He has solar panels that provide a little power "to charge your phone", he says, and has to collect and carry water "every day"."We would have wanted to be in an apartment for the sake of my daughter," he says. "But this is the only option." He says he is in touch with authorities to see if there is anything that can be done to help his living situation, but he is not optimistic. "I need an alternative," he says. "But I'm not going to leave the island when my daughter was born here." Image captions SEWAGE On the other side of the island, at a beach opposite the famous party resort of San Antonio, a different problem is highlighted by IbizaPreservation, a non-profit foundation dedicated to the conservation of Ibiza and its neighbouring smaller island of Formentera - which has also become a celebrity hotspot (landing Katy Perry in trouble) in recent years. IbizaPreservation's Sustainability Observatory co-ordinator Elisa Langley, who was born and raised in San Agustin, not far away, highlights recent closures of beaches due to sewage."In one year, we have had 21 episodes of pollution [across the island]," she says. "Waste waters directly to the sea or to the area of the beach." In 2010, 41 water sampling points at beaches around the island were classified as excellent, according to the foundation. However, in 2023, the number of points rated excellent quality had reduced by half to 21 - with 15 rated good and five rated sufficient. The island's sewage system is old and simply cannot cope during the peak months, IbizaPreservation says. There is currently not enough data to say for certain that increasing tourism is causing the problem of spills, Langley says, but it can't be helping. There are several key solutions that could make "a real difference", she adds, including setting capacity limits - restricting the number of flights, hotel beds and holiday rentals. "Ibiza also needs to protect its natural spaces by limiting access to fragile areas and investing in sustainable transport." Salvem Sa Badia de Portmany, an association dedicated to protecting the Bay of Portmany - the coastal section on the west of the island that includes San Antonio - says the island's sewage system becomes "overwhelmed when there is heavy rainfall and large amounts of greywater from showers and sinks being discharged"."The situation has consistently worsened," a spokesperson says. "As the infrastructure continues to age and the island grows more crowded each summer, the pressure on the system increases. Beaches are suffering - increasing signs of sewage contamination, foul odours, and decaying marine ecosystems are becoming common in the Bay of San Antonio."Seagrass meadows – vital for clean water and biodiversity – are being destroyed, mainly because of lack of controls on the nautic activities and because of the deficient sewage infrastructure. This is all at odds with Ibiza's public image as a pristine, luxury nature destination."Residents are constantly urged to save water, while tourists enjoy unlimited pools, showers, and daily towel services – a model of consumption that is completely unsustainable." While there have been "steps in the right direction" in terms of the tighter controls on short-term rentals, Langley says stricter regulation is also "essential" to help ease the housing crisis for residents and workers. "The main thing is that there is sufficient inspection activity and that cases are brought to a conclusion with exemplary fines for those who do not comply with the law." Langley says the island is near breaking point. "Without urgent action, Ibiza's fragile ecosystems and quality of life are at serious risk." Image captions WHAT NEXT? One person who has been vocal about the pressures is The Secret DJ – an anonymous British DJ and author who started working in Ibiza's clubs in the early 1990s, and moved permanently after Brexit. The problems are global problems, he says, but are magnified on a small island. "Ibiza is a microcosm... it's very wealthy, quite powerful in its own way. There's a lot of money here. It experiences the same problems as somewhere like London or New York, but it experiences them more intensely." There are many positives, he says, and cautions on "aggressive nostalgia" for past eras. "People talk of a golden era – 'oh, Ibiza's over'. They've been saying that for the entire time I've been here... when people idolise a place, they expect it to be frozen in amber. Each generation finds the Ibiza they're looking for." Privilege 2005 Privilege 2005 However, he says the problems created by increasing tourism can't be denied. "We have a very limited resource of water. It's desalinated, reclaimed water. An island that's barely 20 miles across does not have the resources for millions and millions of people." Roads have become increasingly clogged with traffic in recent years, he says, and there are pressures on the health service. "It's a tiny place that's hugely over-subscribed." But the DJ is keen to stress he loves the island, and his criticism is not the same as complaining. "I don't believe it's wrong to speak of difficulties, especially when they're now at almost like a fulcrum point, a turning point, where it's unsustainable. We're at the point where there's simply too many people." Of course, tourism is vital for Ibiza, creating thousands and thousands of jobs each year. Authorities are implementing measures to ease the pressures, but it's clear there is a problem, a housing crisis that appears to be getting worse, and a strain on the island's infrastructure. The island has always embraced its visitors, but with protests ramping up in Ibiza and the Balearic Islands, as well as in parts of mainland Spain - many are saying enough is enough. Image captions CREDITS Written and produced by: Gemma Peplow, culture reporter Saskia Lumley, video journalist Design Simona Pedrali Noy Amira Mutiara Pictures: Europa Press via AP iStock Paul Underhill/Pymca/Shutterstock Top Built with Shorthand 'I serve the rich but live in a van': Is Ibiza at breaking point? This content is provided by 'I serve the rich but live in a van': Is Ibiza at breaking point?, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. 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Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
In an area of shrubland near to the main public hospital, a shanty town of wooden huts draped with tarpaulins heats up in the Ibiza sun. The backdrop of the island's beautiful Old Town is just a mile or so in the distance, but feels like a world away. Here at this makeshift camp in Sa Joveria, not far from the popular beach and party resort of Playa d'en Bossa, dozens of people are living with no electricity, no running water, no waste services, sharing spaces covering just a few square feet. It is the side to Ibiza most do not see. Behind the island's glitz and glamour lies a growing inequality crisis; reports of essential workers such as police officers among those staying in camps, living with friends or family, or even commuting from Majorca due to spiralling living costs fuelled in part by record-high tourism. This weekend, protests against over-tourism are planned across Ibiza, Majorca and areas of mainland Spain, following similar demonstrations last year. "We say enough to the destruction of the territory, to the precariousness, to the housing crisis, to the loss of rights," says the Menys Turisme Mes Vida (Less Tourism More Life) campaign group. Protests in Ibiza in September 2024 Protests in Ibiza in September 2024"I know one person working two different jobs but living in a tent. Someone else paying 850 euros for a single room, now possibly having to share it because the landlord wants to put a bunk bed in... People sleeping on balconies, paying 500 euros a month. There are key workers desperate for accommodation, doctors pleading - I work in a hospital saving lives and I have nowhere to live." Ibiza resident In the camps in Ibiza, many people are nervous about speaking out. But Mohammed, from the territory of Western Sahara, invites us in. He tells us he works in construction and has been on the island for two-and-a-half years. He never expected to be living like this in Ibiza, he says. "It is hard. But it is better than living on the street." The 32-year-old is just one of an increasing number of local and foreign workers the island relies on, unable to afford space in a bedroom, let alone an apartment or a house. A friend pours out small glasses of traditional tea for us to sip as they huddle around a small table. The disparity between the wealth surrounding the area and the conditions they are living in is obvious, Mohammed acknowledges. "But what are you going to do?" Image captions HIPPIES TO THE SUPER RICH Millions of tourists head to the Balearic Islands each year. Like its neighbours Majorca and Menorca, Ibiza has the sun, sea and sand, but most who visit will tell you there is something more that draws them here. From the creatives escaping Franco's Spain in the 1930s to the hippies who set up in the 1960s, the White Isle has long been a haven for the unconventional, and many still come for the anything goes ethos. People are also here to party. Pacha, the island's first nightclub, opened in 1973 - and Wham!'s Club Tropicana video in 1983, filmed at the famous Pikes Hotel, cemented its party reputation. In recent years, Ibiza has increasingly become a luxury playground for the rich, with superyachts worth millions among the boats in the waters of Ibiza Town's port, and Instagrammable superclubs boasting VIP tables costing thousands of euros to secure. Tourism accounts for about 84% of the economy and is vital for the island, with tourist spending reaching 4.3bn euros in 2024, according to the Balearic Institute of Statistics (IBESTAT) - an increase of 62% since 2016. The number of tourists reached a record high of more than 3.7m for Ibiza and neighbouring Formentera in 2023 – an increase of almost 25% since 2016. Flights have also increased dramatically since the turn of the millennium, from just over 25,000 in 2000 to a record 66,000 scheduled this year, according to flights database OAG. Almost a fifth (18%) of these are from the UK - the biggest share after internal flights from the rest of Spain. Many residents and workers say the numbers have become unsustainable - that the island is at "breaking point". Environmental campaigners highlight beach closures due to sewage in recent years, while housing is a major issue across Spain generally as it struggles to balance a key driver of its economy with concerns over high rents due to gentrification, landlords shifting to more lucrative, short-term rentals or even leaving properties empty, and illegal sub-letting. Ibiza seems to be one of the places feeling this acutely. On property site Idealista, rooms in shared apartments have been advertised for 1,500 euros a month - we even found one advertised for the month of August for 4,000 euros. In the peak summer months in 2024, the cost of renting in the Balearic Islands was up by more than 20% year on 2023, according to the site, and the trend looks set to continue this summer. A recent Bank of Spain report said the country has a shortfall of 450,000 homes - and in the tourist hotspots such as the Balearics and Canary Islands, half the housing stock is tourist accommodation or properties owned by non-residents, it found. Authorities are putting measures in place to try and curb the problem. Heavy fines have reportedly been introduced for those not complying with laws, and in February, Consell d'Eivissa (Ibiza's island council) announced a deal with AirBnB to crack down on unregulated holiday lettings on its platform. Sky News understands more than 450 listings have been removed already as a result. A plan to limit cruise ship arrivals was announced last year, and new rules restricting the numbers of tourist cars and caravans during peak months also came into force at the beginning of June. But is it enough? Image captions 'MORE LUXURY, MORE EXPENSIVE' Jane Cull, an English teacher in a language school who has lived on the island for several years, has been staying with a friend while she finishes the term, after being told to leave her apartment at short notice."I've been running around almost begging and feeling really humiliated, asking everybody I've ever known on the island if they can help me," she says. "Over the last few years, it's become increasingly difficult, because what you'd pay before for a whole apartment is what a lot of people are [now] paying for a room. And if you do find a room that's reasonably priced in the winter time, then you're kind of pushed out in the summer season, which has happened to me and many other teachers I know." Teacher Jane Cull Teacher Jane Cull She now faces a search for somewhere more permanent for the new term in September, which she says will be difficult as it is still a busy month for tourism. The island has changed, she says, but there is still much about it she loves."I love the hippie kind of vibe and the history... but as time has gone on it's got very commercial," she says. "More fast-moving, more expensive, more luxury. It's changed a lot. I think that's part of life, around the world, but it's difficult to accept, especially if you planned your life until retirement here.""I am nearly 30 and live with my grandmother, husband and two children. We are used to tourists here and like tourists, but in the last few years things have become much more expensive. My friend still lives with her parents. We cannot be independent because we cannot afford to rent." Ibiza resident Dean Gallagher, who works several jobs - in teaching, property management, DJing and, most famously , snake catching - has been living here for 22 years."There's lots of colourful people here and it's very liberal and laid-back, very progressive. You can walk down the street and bump into literally anyone - celebrities, hippies, DJs, and [in the north] it's very calm and quiet and peaceful. It's not all about intense hedonism." But he says the housing problem needs to be addressed. He rents a "humble" property but says he would find it impossible to buy even a studio flat, despite working several jobs."Over the last six or seven years, I've seen rents literally double... I know people, key workers, affected by this, people we really need for security, for healthcare, and they're living in terrible conditions, some of them... Ibiza's a popular island, I understand that, but key workers need a place to live.""People are really struggling. I think there needs to be a balance. Wealthy people can come here and buy, but they also need to give something." Even the invasive snakes he is known for catching on the island are a symptom of the problem, he says. "When people move here... they've brought palm trees and moreover olive trees from the mainland, which unfortunately had a few stowaways. Those stowaways were snake eggs. They hatched here, multiplied, and now the island is plagued with them." Property manager and snake catcher Dean Gallagher Property manager and snake catcher Dean Gallagher Many property owners choose to rent to tourists or even keep homes empty over letting long-term, he says, to avoid the risk of tenants potentially not paying rent, and the complications that come with that. AirBnB, which is working with authorities on lettings breaking rules, also says empty homes are the biggest problem. Short-term lets have decreased by almost 29% in the last four years, a spokesperson said - " whereas there are now four times more empty homes than tourist homes in Ibiza". Ibiza, like most other small islands, has a "very delicate ecosystem", Dean adds. "And over-building and over-decadence can cause problems in very delicate ecosystems. If [Ibiza] gets too up to date with the rest of the world, [it becomes] a lot like a rich neighbourhood in a big city, then it's kind of losing its specialness. I think everyone is entitled to progress and make money, but we do need to conserve what's really special about this place." Image captions ' WEALTH, FAME - IT ATTRACTS CRIME' For police officer Rafael Gimenez, who was born and raised in Ibiza, the spiralling cost of living became too much. After three years of policing here, he moved to Aragon, in mainland Spain, at the end of 2023, with his wife and two sons."The quality of life has dropped dramatically for residents especially," he says. "I have two children and I believe that for the moment, how Ibiza is, I cannot give them a good quality of life here." Police officer Rafael Gimenez Police officer Rafael Gimenez The island is not big enough to sustain the level of tourism it sees now, he says."I think the core issue is [tourism] massification because along with massification comes everything – the rising prices, the collapse of infrastructures, environmental issues, like a lack of water supply for people, the destruction of the natural environment." He says he also felt there were issues with tackling crime. In recent years, there have been reports of criminals targeting the wealthy and luxury accommodation - such as in 2024, when three people suspected of being part of a criminal gang targeting villas, including one rented by British broadcaster Nick Grimshaw, were arrested by Spanish authorities."Ibiza is attracting a lot people who are very wealthy, a lot of famous people, and of course that attracts the attention of criminal organisations. I was experiencing a lot of alerts regarding breaking into houses, violent robberies of watches, and of course this means that Ibiza as well is becoming like a criminal organisation's place of operations." Protests in April 2025 Protests in April 2025 Gimenez and his mother, Xaquelina Ana Perry, are members of Prou Eivissa (Enough Ibiza), a campaign group calling for an end to overtourism. She says the accommodation crisis is now "really out of control", and like others we spoke to, says she is aware of hotel workers, sanitary workers and even police officers living in camps in recent years."The island relies on these workers, doesn't it?" she says. "We need people to serve the restaurants, clean the hotels, we need teachers. But if there's no accommodation, [some have] got no choice but to live like this, to earn a living." Prou Eivissa, she stresses, is not about against the tourism that for many years ran in sync with the island. "What we are is against the [current] model of tourism and the massification of tourism, because this island is beautiful." Image captions WHAT IS BEING DONE? Fines In April, the island's council said it continued its "unprecedented fight" against illegal tourist lettings. More staff are being hired to pursue and process sanctions against illegal rentals, it said - with potential fines going up to 500,000 euros. AirBnB deal AirBnB has said implementing mandatory registration for all new short-term rental listings is a testament to its commitment to Ibiza, "promoting responsible accommodation and ensuring locals share in the tourist economy". Booking.com The site says it works with authorities in Ibiza to combat illegal listings "and foster a transparent tourism ecosystem". A spokesperson said this would continue to "make tourism a positive force for the island". Cruise ships According to IbizaPreservation, 188 cruise ships arrived at Ibiza port in 2023. In September 2024, the island's council said it would limit numbers to allow no more than two to dock at any one time. Vehicle limit A cap of 20,168 on non-resident vehicles is now in force until September, to "correct an unsustainable situation" of exponential growth over the last 25 years, the island council has said. 'I SERVE THE RICH' At a camp in Es Gorg, also near to Playa d'en Bossa and the OId Town, the scene is different to Sa Joveria. Here, dozens of people are living in vans, caravans and campervans, rather than huts. One man, Charlie, 48, from Seville, is a children's entertainer by day and cleans the streets overnight, working until about 4am. With his little dog entertaining with tricks, he tells us he does not want to pay "really expensive rent" - having seen balconies rented for people to sleep on for 700 euros - and is happy here in his caravan, living a more nomadic lifestyle."Ibiza has a kind of special energy," he says. "What makes me happy is I don't have to pay 700 euros. I can go and spend my money wherever I want, and this is what makes me feel happy. I don't have any trouble." Victor (pictured below), a 28-year-old father who lives in a van nearby with his wife and young daughter, says his situation is more complicated. He is Colombian, but has lived here for a year. "I work here in the Old Town, serving the rich," he says. "My question is: if we are not here, who will serve these people?" He is keen to tell us there are no "bad people" at the camp - something workers at Sa Joveria were also keen to stress - and that he pays taxes. He has solar panels that provide a little power "to charge your phone", he says, and has to collect and carry water "every day"."We would have wanted to be in an apartment for the sake of my daughter," he says. "But this is the only option." He says he is in touch with authorities to see if there is anything that can be done to help his living situation, but he is not optimistic. "I need an alternative," he says. "But I'm not going to leave the island when my daughter was born here." Image captions SEWAGE On the other side of the island, at a beach opposite the famous party resort of San Antonio, a different problem is highlighted by IbizaPreservation, a non-profit foundation dedicated to the conservation of Ibiza and its neighbouring smaller island of Formentera - which has also become a celebrity hotspot (landing Katy Perry in trouble) in recent years. IbizaPreservation's Sustainability Observatory co-ordinator Elisa Langley, who was born and raised in San Agustin, not far away, highlights recent closures of beaches due to sewage."In one year, we have had 21 episodes of pollution [across the island]," she says. "Waste waters directly to the sea or to the area of the beach." In 2010, 41 water sampling points at beaches around the island were classified as excellent, according to the foundation. However, in 2023, the number of points rated excellent quality had reduced by half to 21 - with 15 rated good and five rated sufficient. The island's sewage system is old and simply cannot cope during the peak months, IbizaPreservation says. There is currently not enough data to say for certain that increasing tourism is causing the problem of spills, Langley says, but it can't be helping. There are several key solutions that could make "a real difference", she adds, including setting capacity limits - restricting the number of flights, hotel beds and holiday rentals. "Ibiza also needs to protect its natural spaces by limiting access to fragile areas and investing in sustainable transport." Salvem Sa Badia de Portmany, an association dedicated to protecting the Bay of Portmany - the coastal section on the west of the island that includes San Antonio - says the island's sewage system becomes "overwhelmed when there is heavy rainfall and large amounts of greywater from showers and sinks being discharged"."The situation has consistently worsened," a spokesperson says. "As the infrastructure continues to age and the island grows more crowded each summer, the pressure on the system increases. Beaches are suffering - increasing signs of sewage contamination, foul odours, and decaying marine ecosystems are becoming common in the Bay of San Antonio."Seagrass meadows – vital for clean water and biodiversity – are being destroyed, mainly because of lack of controls on the nautic activities and because of the deficient sewage infrastructure. This is all at odds with Ibiza's public image as a pristine, luxury nature destination."Residents are constantly urged to save water, while tourists enjoy unlimited pools, showers, and daily towel services – a model of consumption that is completely unsustainable." While there have been "steps in the right direction" in terms of the tighter controls on short-term rentals, Langley says stricter regulation is also "essential" to help ease the housing crisis for residents and workers. "The main thing is that there is sufficient inspection activity and that cases are brought to a conclusion with exemplary fines for those who do not comply with the law." Langley says the island is near breaking point. "Without urgent action, Ibiza's fragile ecosystems and quality of life are at serious risk." Image captions WHAT NEXT? One person who has been vocal about the pressures is The Secret DJ – an anonymous British DJ and author who started working in Ibiza's clubs in the early 1990s, and moved permanently after Brexit. The problems are global problems, he says, but are magnified on a small island. "Ibiza is a microcosm... it's very wealthy, quite powerful in its own way. There's a lot of money here. It experiences the same problems as somewhere like London or New York, but it experiences them more intensely." There are many positives, he says, and cautions on "aggressive nostalgia" for past eras. "People talk of a golden era – 'oh, Ibiza's over'. They've been saying that for the entire time I've been here... when people idolise a place, they expect it to be frozen in amber. Each generation finds the Ibiza they're looking for." Privilege 2005 Privilege 2005 However, he says the problems created by increasing tourism can't be denied. "We have a very limited resource of water. It's desalinated, reclaimed water. An island that's barely 20 miles across does not have the resources for millions and millions of people." Roads have become increasingly clogged with traffic in recent years, he says, and there are pressures on the health service. "It's a tiny place that's hugely over-subscribed." But the DJ is keen to stress he loves the island, and his criticism is not the same as complaining. "I don't believe it's wrong to speak of difficulties, especially when they're now at almost like a fulcrum point, a turning point, where it's unsustainable. We're at the point where there's simply too many people." Of course, tourism is vital for Ibiza, creating thousands and thousands of jobs each year. Authorities are implementing measures to ease the pressures, but it's clear there is a problem, a housing crisis that appears to be getting worse, and a strain on the island's infrastructure. The island has always embraced its visitors, but with protests ramping up in Ibiza and the Balearic Islands, as well as in parts of mainland Spain - many are saying enough is enough. Image captions CREDITS Written and produced by: Gemma Peplow, culture reporter Saskia Lumley, video journalist Design Simona Pedrali Noy Amira Mutiara Pictures: Europa Press via AP iStock Paul Underhill/Pymca/Shutterstock Top Built with Shorthand 'I serve the rich but live in a van': Is Ibiza at breaking point? This content is provided by 'I serve the rich but live in a van': Is Ibiza at breaking point?, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. 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In an area of shrubland near to the main public hospital, a shanty town of wooden huts draped with tarpaulins heats up in the Ibiza sun. The backdrop of the island's beautiful Old Town is just a mile or so in the distance, but feels like a world away. Here at this makeshift camp in Sa Joveria, not far from the popular beach and party resort of Playa d'en Bossa, dozens of people are living with no electricity, no running water, no waste services, sharing spaces covering just a few square feet. It is the side to Ibiza most do not see. Behind the island's glitz and glamour lies a growing inequality crisis; reports of essential workers such as police officers among those staying in camps, living with friends or family, or even commuting from Majorca due to spiralling living costs fuelled in part by record-high tourism. This weekend, protests against over-tourism are planned across Ibiza, Majorca and areas of mainland Spain, following similar demonstrations last year. "We say enough to the destruction of the territory, to the precariousness, to the housing crisis, to the loss of rights," says the Menys Turisme Mes Vida (Less Tourism More Life) campaign group. "I know one person working two different jobs but living in a tent. Someone else paying 850 euros for a single room, now possibly having to share it because the landlord wants to put a bunk bed in... People sleeping on balconies, paying 500 euros a month. There are key workers desperate for accommodation, doctors pleading - I work in a hospital saving lives and I have nowhere to live." Ibiza resident In the camps in Ibiza, many people are nervous about speaking out. But Mohammed, from the territory of Western Sahara, invites us in. He tells us he works in construction and has been on the island for two-and-a-half years. He never expected to be living like this in Ibiza, he says. "It is hard. But it is better than living on the street." The 32-year-old is just one of an increasing number of local and foreign workers the island relies on, unable to afford space in a bedroom, let alone an apartment or a house. A friend pours out small glasses of traditional tea for us to sip as they huddle around a small table. The disparity between the wealth surrounding the area and the conditions they are living in is obvious, Mohammed acknowledges. "But what are you going to do?" HIPPIES TO THE SUPER RICH Millions of tourists head to the Balearic Islands each year. Like its neighbours Majorca and Menorca, Ibiza has the sun, sea and sand, but most who visit will tell you there is something more that draws them here. From the creatives escaping Franco's Spain in the 1930s to the hippies who set up in the 1960s, the White Isle has long been a haven for the unconventional, and many still come for the anything goes ethos. People are also here to party. Pacha, the island's first nightclub, opened in 1973 - and Wham!'s Club Tropicana video in 1983, filmed at the famous Pikes Hotel, cemented its party reputation. In recent years, Ibiza has increasingly become a luxury playground for the rich, with superyachts worth millions among the boats in the waters of Ibiza Town's port, and Instagrammable superclubs boasting VIP tables costing thousands of euros to secure. Tourism accounts for about 84% of the economy and is vital for the island, with tourist spending reaching 4.3bn euros in 2024, according to the Balearic Institute of Statistics (IBESTAT) - an increase of 62% since 2016. The number of tourists reached a record high of more than 3.7m for Ibiza and neighbouring Formentera in 2023 – an increase of almost 25% since 2016. Flights have also increased dramatically since the turn of the millennium, from just over 25,000 in 2000 to a record 66,000 scheduled this year, according to flights database OAG. Almost a fifth (18%) of these are from the UK - the biggest share after internal flights from the rest of Spain. Many residents and workers say the numbers have become unsustainable - that the island is at "breaking point". Environmental campaigners highlight beach closures due to sewage in recent years, while housing is a major issue across Spain generally as it struggles to balance a key driver of its economy with concerns over high rents due to gentrification, landlords shifting to more lucrative, short-term rentals or even leaving properties empty, and illegal sub-letting. Ibiza seems to be one of the places feeling this acutely. On property site Idealista, rooms in shared apartments have been advertised for 1,500 euros a month - we even found one advertised for the month of August for 4,000 euros. In the peak summer months in 2024, the cost of renting in the Balearic Islands was up by more than 20% year on 2023, according to the site, and the trend looks set to continue this summer. A recent Bank of Spain report said the country has a shortfall of 450,000 homes - and in the tourist hotspots such as the Balearics and Canary Islands, half the housing stock is tourist accommodation or properties owned by non-residents, it found. Authorities are putting measures in place to try and curb the problem. Heavy fines have reportedly been introduced for those not complying with laws, and in February, Consell d'Eivissa (Ibiza's island council) announced a deal with AirBnB to crack down on unregulated holiday lettings on its platform. Sky News understands more than 450 listings have been removed already as a result. A plan to limit cruise ship arrivals was announced last year, and new rules restricting the numbers of tourist cars and caravans during peak months also came into force at the beginning of June. But is it enough? 'MORE LUXURY, MORE EXPENSIVE' Jane Cull, an English teacher in a language school who has lived on the island for several years, has been staying with a friend while she finishes the term, after being told to leave her apartment at short notice. "I've been running around almost begging and feeling really humiliated, asking everybody I've ever known on the island if they can help me," she says. "Over the last few years, it's become increasingly difficult, because what you'd pay before for a whole apartment is what a lot of people are [now] paying for a room. And if you do find a room that's reasonably priced in the winter time, then you're kind of pushed out in the summer season, which has happened to me and many other teachers I know." She now faces a search for somewhere more permanent for the new term in September, which she says will be difficult as it is still a busy month for tourism. The island has changed, she says, but there is still much about it she loves. "I love the hippie kind of vibe and the history... but as time has gone on it's got very commercial," she says. "More fast-moving, more expensive, more luxury. It's changed a lot. I think that's part of life, around the world, but it's difficult to accept, especially if you planned your life until retirement here." "I am nearly 30 and live with my grandmother, husband and two children. We are used to tourists here and like tourists, but in the last few years things have become much more expensive. My friend still lives with her parents. We cannot be independent because we cannot afford to rent." Ibiza resident Dean Gallagher, who works several jobs - in teaching, property management, DJing and, most famously , snake catching - has been living here for 22 years. "There's lots of colourful people here and it's very liberal and laid-back, very progressive. You can walk down the street and bump into literally anyone - celebrities, hippies, DJs, and [in the north] it's very calm and quiet and peaceful. It's not all about intense hedonism." But he says the housing problem needs to be addressed. He rents a "humble" property but says he would find it impossible to buy even a studio flat, despite working several jobs. "Over the last six or seven years, I've seen rents literally double... I know people, key workers, affected by this, people we really need for security, for healthcare, and they're living in terrible conditions, some of them... Ibiza's a popular island, I understand that, but key workers need a place to live." "People are really struggling. I think there needs to be a balance. Wealthy people can come here and buy, but they also need to give something." Even the invasive snakes he is known for catching on the island are a symptom of the problem, he says. "When people move here... they've brought palm trees and moreover olive trees from the mainland, which unfortunately had a few stowaways. Those stowaways were snake eggs. They hatched here, multiplied, and now the island is plagued with them." Many property owners choose to rent to tourists or even keep homes empty over letting long-term, he says, to avoid the risk of tenants potentially not paying rent, and the complications that come with that. AirBnB, which is working with authorities on lettings breaking rules, also says empty homes are the biggest problem. Short-term lets have decreased by almost 29% in the last four years, a spokesperson said - "whereas there are now four times more empty homes than tourist homes in Ibiza". Ibiza, like most other small islands, has a "very delicate ecosystem", Dean adds. "And over-building and over-decadence can cause problems in very delicate ecosystems. If [Ibiza] gets too up to date with the rest of the world, [it becomes] a lot like a rich neighbourhood in a big city, then it's kind of losing its specialness. I think everyone is entitled to progress and make money, but we do need to conserve what's really special about this place." ' WEALTH, FAME - IT ATTRACTS CRIME' For police officer Rafael Gimenez, who was born and raised in Ibiza, the spiralling cost of living became too much. After three years of policing here, he moved to Aragon, in mainland Spain, at the end of 2023, with his wife and two sons. "The quality of life has dropped dramatically for residents especially," he says. "I have two children and I believe that for the moment, how Ibiza is, I cannot give them a good quality of life here." The island is not big enough to sustain the level of tourism it sees now, he says. "I think the core issue is [tourism] massification because along with massification comes everything – the rising prices, the collapse of infrastructures, environmental issues, like a lack of water supply for people, the destruction of the natural environment." He says he also felt there were issues with tackling crime. In recent years, there have been reports of criminals targeting the wealthy and luxury accommodation - such as in 2024, when three people suspected of being part of a criminal gang targeting villas, including one rented by British broadcaster Nick Grimshaw, were arrested by Spanish authorities. "Ibiza is attracting a lot people who are very wealthy, a lot of famous people, and of course that attracts the attention of criminal organisations. I was experiencing a lot of alerts regarding breaking into houses, violent robberies of watches, and of course this means that Ibiza as well is becoming like a criminal organisation's place of operations." Gimenez and his mother, Xaquelina Ana Perry, are members of Prou Eivissa (Enough Ibiza), a campaign group calling for an end to overtourism. She says the accommodation crisis is now "really out of control", and like others we spoke to, says she is aware of hotel workers, sanitary workers and even police officers living in camps in recent years. "The island relies on these workers, doesn't it?" she says. "We need people to serve the restaurants, clean the hotels, we need teachers. But if there's no accommodation, [some have] got no choice but to live like this, to earn a living." Prou Eivissa, she stresses, is not about against the tourism that for many years ran in sync with the island. "What we are is against the [current] model of tourism and the massification of tourism, because this island is beautiful." WHAT IS BEING DONE? Fines In April, the island's council said it continued its "unprecedented fight" against illegal tourist lettings. More staff are being hired to pursue and process sanctions against illegal rentals, it said - with potential fines going up to 500,000 euros. AirBnB deal AirBnB has said implementing mandatory registration for all new short-term rental listings is a testament to its commitment to Ibiza, "promoting responsible accommodation and ensuring locals share in the tourist economy". The site says it works with authorities in Ibiza to combat illegal listings "and foster a transparent tourism ecosystem". A spokesperson said this would continue to "make tourism a positive force for the island". Cruise ships According to IbizaPreservation, 188 cruise ships arrived at Ibiza port in 2023. In September 2024, the island's council said it would limit numbers to allow no more than two to dock at any one time. Vehicle limit A cap of 20,168 on non-resident vehicles is now in force until September, to "correct an unsustainable situation" of exponential growth over the last 25 years, the island council has said. 'I SERVE THE RICH' At a camp in Es Gorg, also near to Playa d'en Bossa and the OId Town, the scene is different to Sa Joveria. Here, dozens of people are living in vans, caravans and campervans, rather than huts. One man, Charlie, 48, from Seville, is a children's entertainer by day and cleans the streets overnight, working until about 4am. With his little dog entertaining with tricks, he tells us he does not want to pay "really expensive rent" - having seen balconies rented for people to sleep on for 700 euros - and is happy here in his caravan, living a more nomadic lifestyle. "Ibiza has a kind of special energy," he says. "What makes me happy is I don't have to pay 700 euros. I can go and spend my money wherever I want, and this is what makes me feel happy. I don't have any trouble." Victor (pictured below), a 28-year-old father who lives in a van nearby with his wife and young daughter, says his situation is more complicated. He is Colombian, but has lived here for a year. "I work here in the Old Town, serving the rich," he says. "My question is: if we are not here, who will serve these people?" He is keen to tell us there are no "bad people" at the camp - something workers at Sa Joveria were also keen to stress - and that he pays taxes. He has solar panels that provide a little power "to charge your phone", he says, and has to collect and carry water "every day". "We would have wanted to be in an apartment for the sake of my daughter," he says. "But this is the only option." He says he is in touch with authorities to see if there is anything that can be done to help his living situation, but he is not optimistic. "I need an alternative," he says. "But I'm not going to leave the island when my daughter was born here." SEWAGE On the other side of the island, at a beach opposite the famous party resort of San Antonio, a different problem is highlighted by IbizaPreservation, a non-profit foundation dedicated to the conservation of Ibiza and its neighbouring smaller island of Formentera - which has also become a celebrity hotspot (landing Katy Perry in trouble) in recent years. IbizaPreservation's Sustainability Observatory co-ordinator Elisa Langley, who was born and raised in San Agustin, not far away, highlights recent closures of beaches due to sewage. "In one year, we have had 21 episodes of pollution [across the island]," she says. "Waste waters directly to the sea or to the area of the beach." In 2010, 41 water sampling points at beaches around the island were classified as excellent, according to the foundation. However, in 2023, the number of points rated excellent quality had reduced by half to 21 - with 15 rated good and five rated sufficient. The island's sewage system is old and simply cannot cope during the peak months, IbizaPreservation says. There is currently not enough data to say for certain that increasing tourism is causing the problem of spills, Langley says, but it can't be helping. There are several key solutions that could make "a real difference", she adds, including setting capacity limits - restricting the number of flights, hotel beds and holiday rentals. "Ibiza also needs to protect its natural spaces by limiting access to fragile areas and investing in sustainable transport." Salvem Sa Badia de Portmany, an association dedicated to protecting the Bay of Portmany - the coastal section on the west of the island that includes San Antonio - says the island's sewage system becomes "overwhelmed when there is heavy rainfall and large amounts of greywater from showers and sinks being discharged". "The situation has consistently worsened," a spokesperson says. "As the infrastructure continues to age and the island grows more crowded each summer, the pressure on the system increases. Beaches are suffering - increasing signs of sewage contamination, foul odours, and decaying marine ecosystems are becoming common in the Bay of San Antonio. "Seagrass meadows – vital for clean water and biodiversity – are being destroyed, mainly because of lack of controls on the nautic activities and because of the deficient sewage infrastructure. This is all at odds with Ibiza's public image as a pristine, luxury nature destination. "Residents are constantly urged to save water, while tourists enjoy unlimited pools, showers, and daily towel services – a model of consumption that is completely unsustainable." While there have been "steps in the right direction" in terms of the tighter controls on short-term rentals, Langley says stricter regulation is also "essential" to help ease the housing crisis for residents and workers. "The main thing is that there is sufficient inspection activity and that cases are brought to a conclusion with exemplary fines for those who do not comply with the law." Langley says the island is near breaking point. "Without urgent action, Ibiza's fragile ecosystems and quality of life are at serious risk." WHAT NEXT? One person who has been vocal about the pressures is The Secret DJ – an anonymous British DJ and author who started working in Ibiza's clubs in the early 1990s, and moved permanently after Brexit. The problems are global problems, he says, but are magnified on a small island. "Ibiza is a microcosm... it's very wealthy, quite powerful in its own way. There's a lot of money here. It experiences the same problems as somewhere like London or New York, but it experiences them more intensely." There are many positives, he says, and cautions on "aggressive nostalgia" for past eras. "People talk of a golden era – 'oh, Ibiza's over'. They've been saying that for the entire time I've been here... when people idolise a place, they expect it to be frozen in amber. Each generation finds the Ibiza they're looking for." However, he says the problems created by increasing tourism can't be denied. "We have a very limited resource of water. It's desalinated, reclaimed water. An island that's barely 20 miles across does not have the resources for millions and millions of people." Roads have become increasingly clogged with traffic in recent years, he says, and there are pressures on the health service. "It's a tiny place that's hugely over-subscribed." But the DJ is keen to stress he loves the island, and his criticism is not the same as complaining. "I don't believe it's wrong to speak of difficulties, especially when they're now at almost like a fulcrum point, a turning point, where it's unsustainable. We're at the point where there's simply too many people." Of course, tourism is vital for Ibiza, creating thousands and thousands of jobs each year. Authorities are implementing measures to ease the pressures, but it's clear there is a problem, a housing crisis that appears to be getting worse, and a strain on the island's infrastructure. The island has always embraced its visitors, but with protests ramping up in Ibiza and the Balearic Islands, as well as in parts of mainland Spain - many are saying enough is enough. CREDITS Written and produced by: Gemma Peplow, culture reporter Saskia Lumley, video journalist Design Simona Pedrali Noy Amira Mutiara Pictures: Europa Press via AP iStock Paul Underhill/Pymca/Shutterstock Top Built with Shorthand
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
ANDREW PIERCE: Is Angela Rayner's hard-Left boyfriend plotting to put her in No 10 as revenge for his sacking by Starmer's ruthless right-hand man?
On the eve of the Government's difficult Spending Review, Angela Rayner was in surprisingly high spirits. Drinks were flowing as the Deputy Prime Minister held court, acting as the DJ playing loud 'house music' while her guests danced the night away. Rayner's office has refused to confirm whether a party took place in her resplendent grace-and-favour apartment in Admiralty House, once the home of Sir Winston Churchill, the night before the Housing Secretary received one of the biggest financial packages of the Spending Review. Rayner had to battle to the bitter end against Chancellor Rachel Reeves, but the outcome fell in her favour and is a sign of her growing influence. In recent weeks, there have been reports of Rayner limbering up to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader, and she has solid backing from members of the soft-Left, as well as the unions. Her victory in the Reeves negotiations is a clear sign that Downing Street is trying to keep her on side. Little wonder, then, that she indulged in raucous celebrations hours before the Chancellor addressed the Commons, reviving memories of when she was photographed belting out songs behind the DJ's desk in an Ibiza nightclub last summer. When Rayner, 45, took her place on the benches for the Spending Review, many thought she looked somewhat jaded. The same was said of Blackpool South MP Chris Webb, who was at the party and is one of her closest friends. A source told me: 'They were celebrating the fact that Ange had won her deal on the Spending Review. She is feeling on top of the world. The settlement showed that Ange is a serious player. Tarry, 42, has never got over being sacked as a shadow minister in July 2022 for giving a TV interview while on a picket line during a rail strike 'It may look insensitive but it was a private party for a small group of friends and supporters. These party guests will run an Angela Rayner leadership campaign if and when the time comes.' Rayner's ebullience was in stark contrast to the downbeat demeanour of the dwindling band of Reeves supporters. Her stock has fallen to rock bottom among Labour MPs and members. And Rayner's soiree will only heighten suspicions in the Downing Street bunker ahead of a potential crunch Commons vote on reforms to disability benefits. As many as 200 Labour MPs are said to be deeply unhappy about Reeves's plans to make £5 billion of cuts. In public, Rayner says she has no interest in becoming Labour leader. In private, however, I can disclose that many of the party-goers on Tuesday night are working hard to bolster her support among MPs and party members. Some MPs have dubbed the less-than-covert Rayner campaign Operation Revenge because it is being masterminded by her boyfriend Sam Tarry, 42, who has never got over being sacked as a shadow minister in July 2022 for giving a TV interview while on a picket line during a rail strike. Later that year, he was deselected as the MP for Ilford South. Tarry, who was part of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership team, blames his downfall on Starmer's all-powerful chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who wants to purge the party of Left-wingers. Revenge is a dish best served cold, they say, and Tarry is pushing for Rayner to be the first elected woman leader of the Labour Party. In the run-up to the election, Rayner ruled out a tilt at the top job because she knew Labour was destined to win big and assumed that Starmer would be a fixture in No 10 for years. Since he became PM, however, support for Labour has collapsed faster than that of any newly elected governing party in the past 40 years. Starmer's personal rating is a woeful minus 46 per cent. And Rayner is popular where it counts – with party members. In a poll by independent party news website LabourList, she came second to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who is not a leadership contender after his disastrous election defeat in 2015. What's more, many Labour MPs believe they must elect a woman for the first time in the party's 125-year history. Even Rayner's many detractors, who scorn her intellectual ability, concede there is no serious alternative contender. Rachel Reeves and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson have crashed and burned in the eyes of voters. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, another favourite of party members, does not have a Commons seat. And Health Secretary Wes Streeting's majority was cut to 550 by an independent Muslim candidate standing on a pro-Gaza platform. Many suspect he will lose next time. The man who helped Rayner avoid a similar fate is her close friend Wajid Khan, a former mayor of Burnley. He was instrumental in ensuring no independent Muslim candidate stood against her in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency in Greater Manchester, which she won with a 6,700 majority over Reform. To the surprise of many, Khan – who was elevated to the Lords by Starmer in 2020 – became Rayner's deputy minister in the housing department. 'Khan was repaid with a ministerial job and he is now repaying her in turn by working discreetly on her behalf,' says a supporter. 'He will be a hugely important link to the Muslim vote which Labour is losing under Starmer.' All of which helps explains why Rayner has come round to the idea that, if Starmer goes, she should run. It explains, too, last month's leak of a memo from Rayner to the Chancellor outlining her alternative money-raising measures, arguing for higher taxes on wealthier people and cutting benefits for migrants. Whoever leaked it – and Rayner's team say it wasn't them – had one purpose: to cast her in a positive light with the MPs and party members who will choose the next leader. Some MPs say the leak fired the starting gun on a long race to succeed Starmer, which is why it caused such anger in Downing Street. Days later, Rayner had to fight her corner behind the scenes after reports that Starmer would strip her of the housing element of her brief. Flame-haired Rayner is unashamedly combative and, according to a source, 'there was a lot of shouting'. A darling of the trade unionists, she has the personality to build bridges across the party. Rayner was the special guest at Tony Blair's Christmas drinks last year. She is also close to Gordon Brown and her boisterous birthday karaoke parties are well attended by the Right and Left in the party. A Rayner associate says: 'If you're a working-class woman like Ange, who is always being written off by the men in the Downing Street bunker, what better way to prove them wrong than by seizing the top job?' Rayner famously left school aged 16, pregnant and without any qualifications. Her political hero was former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott. 'Some say she's Prescott in a skirt,' says a supporter. 'Like Prescott, she speaks the language of ordinary voters. She understands them the way the metropolitan elite around Starmer don't. If there's a leadership election tomorrow, she wins hands down.' Downing Street is aware of the manoeuvring. It may be why, in the past few weeks, Rayner has lost her personal photographer, Simon Walker. 'No 10 thought she was getting too big for her boots, so they grounded her photographer and have now taken the post away altogether,' a source told me. A source close to Starmer says: 'You can't blame them for reining her in. Keir leads a stable government, a disciplined party, and knows what he wants. Ange would be woefully out of her depth as PM. She's not up to it and MPs know it.' But Rayner is indifferent to the barbs. She thinks she's on a roll and, judging by the mood of her party guests, they think the same.
