Lammy holding talks on post-Brexit deal for Gibraltar
Talks on rules governing the border of Spain and Gibraltar have been ongoing since Britain left the European Union in 2020, but an agreement has not yet been reached.
The PA news agency understands that a deal has not yet been reached and there are still a number of sticking points.
A Foreign Office source said: 'We're working to secure an agreement that works for the people and businesses in Gibraltar.
'An agreement that will protect British sovereignty, supports Gibraltar's economy and allows businesses to plan for the future.'
Ministers have insisted no deal will be done without the full support of Gibraltar's government.
Mr Lammy held talks with chief minister Fabian Picardo in Gibraltar along with the UK's overseas territories minister Stephen Doughty.
Today, with @DavidLammy and @SDoughtyMP we held a Cabinet meeting in No6 Convent Place to agree final parameters for negotiation. We will now travel to Brussels to meet @MarosSefcovic and @jmalbares. It's time to try to finalise arrangements for lasting, stable relationship… pic.twitter.com/YojYmRi0cu
— Fabian Picardo (@FabianPicardo) June 11, 2025
The ministers and Mr Picardo then travelled to Brussels for talks with the EU and Spanish representatives.
In a post on X on Wednesday morning, Mr Picardo said it is 'time to try to finalise arrangements for lasting, stable relationship between Gibraltar and the EU/Spain which is safe, secure and beneficial'.
But officials close to the talks said there were still 'hard negotiations ahead'.
Gibraltar was ceded to the UK by Spain in 1713 and the population is heavily in favour of remaining a British overseas territory.
The last time it voted on a proposal to share sovereignty with Spain, in 2002, almost 99% of Gibraltarians rejected the move.
Gibraltar also hosts an RAF base at its airport and an important naval facility.
The Government, in line with its Conservative predecessors, has said it will not sign up to a deal that gives sovereignty over Gibraltar to another country, or that the Gibraltarian government is not content with.
The strategic defence review, released earlier this month, said the UK would maintain a military presence in Gibraltar, 'upholding the sovereignty of British Gibraltar territorial waters'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
British families of Hamas hostages blast Keir Starmer's plan to recognise Palestinian state that they claim will leave loved ones 'rotting in dungeons'
Keir Starmer 's recognition of Palestine will not help the hostages still held in Gaza and is likely to leave them 'rotting in Hamas dungeons', relatives said last night. British families say they were told that the release of those still in the hands of the group would 'play no part' in the UK's plans to recognise statehood. They urged the Prime Minister to change course. Sir Keir announced earlier this week that the UK would take the step of recognising Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September unless Israel meets certain conditions. Members of four British families met with Foreign Office officials on Thursday night seeking clarification on whether conditions would also be placed on Hamas, their lawyers said in a statement. 'However, it was clear from the meeting that the British Government 's policy will not help the hostages, and could even hurt them,' they said. 'We do not say this lightly, but it was made obvious to us at the meeting that although the conditions for recognising a Palestinian state would be assessed 'in the round' in late September, in deciding whether to go ahead with recognition, the release or otherwise of the hostages would play no part in those considerations. 'In other words, the 'vision for peace' which the UK is pursuing... may well involve our clients' family members continuing to rot in Hamas dungeons.' Sir Keir had said the UK would only refrain from recognising Palestine if Israel allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire and signs up to a long-term peace process. While he also called for Hamas to immediately release all remaining Israeli hostages, disarm and 'accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza', he did not explicitly say these would factor into whether recognition would go ahead. The families have a range of views on what the future political settlement should look like but their priority is to keep the hostages 'above political games', their lawyers said, as they urged the PM to 'change course before it is too late'. Sir Keir said that he 'particularly' listens to hostages after criticism of his plans from Emily Damari, a British-Israeli woman who was held captive by Hamas. The families of Ms Damari and freed hostage Eli Sharabi were among those who met with the Foreign Office. Also present were relatives of Nadav Popplewell and Oded Lifshitz, who both died while in captivity, as well as those of Yocheved Lifschitz, who was released. US President Donald Trump disagrees with Sir Keir's plans, as well as those of France and Canada. The two countries have also pledged to recognise Palestine. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: '[Mr Trump] feels as though that's rewarding Hamas at a time where Hamas is the true impediment to a ceasefire and the release of all of the hostages.' Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, suggested Sir Keir's 'clumsy' pledge 'has reduced the chances of a ceasefire'. Meanwhile pro-Palestinian groups are planning a 'siege' on Labour MPs, councillors and staff in a bid to force the party into an even tougher stance against Israel. The Palestinian Youth Movement has sent instructions to 'solidarity groups' across the UK to take part in a national day of action against the party.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Why Tory leader no longer considers herself Nigerian despite ancestry
Kemi Badenoch has stated she no longer identifies as Nigerian, despite her ancestry. The Conservative leader confirmed she has not renewed her Nigerian passport since the early 2000s. Born in Wimbledon in 1980, Ms Badenoch was raised in Lagos, Nigeria, and the United States. She explained her identity is now rooted in her family, stating 'home is where my now family is'. Ms Badenoch was among the last individuals to receive birthright citizenship in the UK before the rules were abolished the following year.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Labour's plan to recognise Palestine even if Hamas does not release hostages SLAMMED by families of captives
A statement issued by the families' lawyers said the conditions for recognising a Palestinian state would be assessed in late-September DEAL SHOCK Labour's plan to recognise Palestine even if Hamas does not release hostages SLAMMED by families of captives Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HOSTAGE families blasted Labour's plan to recognise Palestine — after being told failure to release loved-ones will not stop the move. At a Foreign Office meeting, the relatives of four British-linked captives were told the UK would press ahead with state recognition even if Hamas terrorists refuse to free any of the 50 it still holds. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Sign up A statement issued by their lawyers Adam Rose and Adam Wagner KC said the conditions for recognising a Palestinian state would be assessed in late-September. But it added: 'It was made obvious to us at the meeting that, in deciding whether to go ahead with recognition, the release or otherwise of the hostages would play no part in those considerations.' They warned the UK's new position would not help 'and could even hurt' hostages. They said PM Sir Keir Starmer's plan 'appears to be to put pressure on the Israelis only to reach a deal'. It abandons efforts to press both sides, they add. Sir Keir outlined the route to recognising a Palestinian state this week. He was met with outrage by hostage families and concern from Jewish community leaders. Emily Damari, 29, who was held in Gaza and released in January, called it a 'moral failure'. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump vowed to 'get people fed' in Gaza after sending envoy Steve Witkoff to tour a US-backed aid site in Rafah. Hamas agrees to release 10 hostages as terror group issues ceasefire red lines after Trump pressured Israel to end war
