Theresa May has been slammed for giving way to Spain’s demands over the future of Gibraltar, with political commentators calling her concessions a “total capitulation” as Brexit negotiations enter a key stage.
The British government publicly conceded that Gibraltar will not necessarily be covered by a future trade deal in an astonishing backtrack yesterday.
Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez had threatening to veto May’s deal at Sunday’s leaders’ summit in Brussels without concessions over the British overseas territory.
Following the announcement Sánchez immediately claimed that he would use the concession to force the British to open talks on joint sovereignty of Gibraltar, over which Spain has had a claim since the dictatorship of Francisco Franco.
He said: “Once the UK has left the EU, Gibraltar’s political, legal and even geographic relationship with the EU will go through Spain.
“Spain will be a fundamental pillar of the relationship between Gibraltar and the EU as a whole.
“When it comes to the future political declaration, the European council and the European Commission have backed Spain’s position, and backed it as never before.
“In these fundamental future negotiations, we’re going to have to talk about joint sovereignty and many other things with the UK.”
