May denies 'caving in' over Gibraltar as Spain claims victory before EU Brexit summit
The prime minister arrives in Brussels as EU leaders prepare to approve the UK's withdrawal agreement at Sunday's crucial meeting.
Sunday 25 November 2018 05:36, UK
Theresa May insisted the UK's position on Gibraltar "has not changed" after she was accused of caving in to Spanish demands ahead of Sunday's Brexit summit.
The prime minister arrived in Brussels as EU leaders prepare to approve the UK's withdrawal agreement, which had been threatened by a diplomatic row with Madrid.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez revealed he would no longer vote against the Brexit deal, saying the UK and EU had agreed to demands for guarantees over the status of Gibraltar in future negotiations.
Mr Sanchez claimed the agreement allowed Spain to talk about "co-sovereignty" of the territory in the coming years.
But in a sharp response, Mrs May said: "The UK's position on the sovereignty of Gibraltar has not changed and will not change.
"I am proud that Gibraltar is British and I will always stand by Gibraltar."
Spanish foreign minister Josep Borrell hailed the agreement over Gibraltar as "the most important" since the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, under which the territory was ceded to the UK.
But Gibraltar's chief minister, Fabian Picardo, used a live TV address to dismiss the Spanish government's claims, comparing Mr Sanchez to the country's former fascist dictator General Franco.
"The government of the UK has been completely firm in its resolve and in our support," Mr Picardo said.
"What you have heard from the Spanish prime minister today was not a reflection of any new position, however much he tried to present it as such."
The diplomatic spat which threatened to derail the Brexit process was resolved after emergency talks involving Mr Sanchez, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
The British government wrote to Mr Tusk to say that it would not interpret its withdrawal treaty as meaning that a future EU-UK trade treaty would automatically apply to Gibraltar - but it would seek the best deal for the territory.
"We will always negotiate on behalf of the whole UK family, including Gibraltar," Mrs May said.
"We have worked through the withdrawal issues for Gibraltar in a constructive and sensible way."
Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake claimed the PM had "caved in" and "appears to have cast the people of Gibraltar aside".
"She has conceded that Gibraltar won't necessarily be covered by a future trade deal, simply another example of why what she has negotiated is completely unacceptable," he said.
Mr Tusk said the Brexit deal reached by negotiators from the UK and Brussels "found the best possible compromise" and he would recommend that they approve it.
In a tweet, he quoted Queen's song Friends Will Be Friends to sum up the mood for Sunday's summit, saying: "Friends will be friends right till the end."
Ahead of the EU summit, Mrs May also faced domestic difficulties as the Democratic Unionist Party held its conference in Belfast, where Boris Johnson made a guest appearance.
The former foreign secretary - viewed as a potential leadership rival to Mrs May - said the UK was on the verge of "making a historic mistake", adding: "Unless we junk this backstop, we will find that Brussels has got us exactly where they want us - a satellite state."
Mr Johnson set out a series of demands, including a commitment in the withdrawal agreement for a "super Canada" trade deal, a provision to withhold "at least half" the £39bn divorce bill until trade talks are concluded, and a dedicated cabinet minister for no-deal planning.
In her conference speech, DUP leader Arlene Foster said: "The reality is that if we are to secure a better outcome than is currently on offer, then the only option is to look beyond this current draft withdrawal agreement and work in the time ahead for an improved outcome."