Gibraltar row sparks fears of erosion of UK sovereignty

Brexiteer Tory MPs threaten revolt over treaty with territory

- DAVID MADDOX

The Brexiteer promise of stronger sovereignty has failed and is instead leading to a loss of control of British territories, MPs have warned. The claim has come ahead of a showdown expected today between David Cameron and members of the Commons European scrutiny committee over a planned treaty for Gibraltar.

The governments of Gibraltar and the UK are close to agreeing a treaty that some fear will see EU Frontex border guards decide who can enter the British overseas territory – and will give them the power to turn away British citizens. Added to that, with the threat that Gibraltar could become subject to Schengen area rules, there are now concerns that UK citizens will only be allowed to stay for 90 days on “the Rock” even though it is a British overseas territory.

Gibraltar has been a British territory since it was handed to the UK in the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, part of a series of agreements that ended the war of the Spanish succession. Spain, though, has long disputed the land on which the RAF Gibraltar air force station is situated, claiming it was part of an illegal landgrab by the British in the 19th century. Spain has been pushing to regain control of the territory for decades.

But there are wider concerns about this treaty with the EU because of implications of a dilution of British sovereignty in areas such as Northern Ireland and even potentially the UK bases in Cyprus, where pressure is mounting over land that is British sovereign territory.