Theresa May ready to go to war over Gibraltar’s sovereignty – Michael Howard

Diplomatic row between the UK and Spain concerning Gibraltar takes a new twist as the Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis gets involved in the dispute, after Theresa May triggered Article 50 to formerly inform the EU of the UK’s exit in the bloc.

Mr Dastis’ assertion is that the UK’s action towards the issue is hasty, after the PM failed to include it in the six-page letter that was sent to the EU.

He said: “The Spanish government is a little surprised by the tone of comments coming out of Britain, a country known for its composure.”

His statement was a reaction to the one made by a former Tory leader Michael Howard who stressed that Mrs May would be willing to go to war to defend the British territory, as it did with the Falkland Islands 35 years ago.

The issue of Gibraltar’s sovereignty reared its head once again after it was left out of the letter penned by Mrs May triggering Article 50.

The EU further made the situation worse by proposing to give Spain a right of veto over Gibraltar’s future trading relationship with the EU, which happens to what the Mediterranean country has been struggling for.

Complicating the situation further the European Union has proposed giving Spain a right of veto over the region’s future trading relations with the bloc, something the Mediterranean country has been pushing for.

As a result of the position being taken by the EU, a political fight has begun between the two countries. The PM said she is determined to include the enclave in all her Brexit talks with the EU.

In the EU’s draft position on exit talks, distributed by Council President Donald Tusk, Gibraltar was name-checked, as was Spain’s veto.

On the other hand Gibraltar’s chief minister, Fabian Picardo, said references to the country should be removed.

He said: “This is clear Spanish bullying.

"The way that the European Council has behaved in allowing Spain to single out Gibraltar in this negative way is really quite pernicious.”

Stressing that despite the fact that Gibraltarians voted massively to remain in the EU, in 2002, the people also unequivocally rejected joint British-Spanish sovereignty.

Some 98 per cent of voters chose to stay British in the referendum.

Boris Johnson also reiterated British support for Gibraltar alongside Mrs May, saying: "The sovereignty of Gibraltar is unchanged and is not going to change.”

The issue has become the first hurdle in the Brexit negotiations, a process set to formally last two years.