![Five years after Brexit, the Rock’s still in a hard place Five years after Brexit, the Rock’s still in a hard place](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1738126129/articles/IVzcMeUb_1738140457448/FIVE-YEARS-AFTER-BREXIT-THE-ROCKS-STILL-IN-A-HARD-PLACE.jpg)
As our plane approaches Gibraltar, the British Airways pilot announces that there is a southwesterly breeze, which is in fact a warning. It means very strong cross winds that can then lead to the phrase you least want to hear: “Divert to Malaga.” A Spanish landing over the border puts hours on the journey. When our captain makes a second attempt with a bracing landing on the short Gibraltar runway and a bone-shaking reverse thrust, he gets a round of applause. I ask a Gibraltarian passenger if they had thought of making the runway longer and they sigh. Everything comes back to territory.
The 18th-century traveller and antiquarian Francis Carter wrote: “The shape and face of Gibraltar Rock is neither promising nor pleasing and it is as barren as uncouth, not a tree or a shrub hardly to be seen on it above the town … On casting an eye up this barren hill, one would not imagine any living creature could exist upon it.”
And yet it is fiercely loved by Gibraltarians of different races and faiths, united by British passports, who have been waiting five years to hear the outcome of a new treaty which is still yet to be signed.
Gibraltar is British but the waters surrounding it are disputed. Usually, a nation would claim 12 miles from land but the UK makes do with three, because 12 across the bay takes you pretty much to the Spanish coast. Air space is also contentious. British military planes are not permitted to fly over Spanish air space, although Spain is a Nato ally, and those taking off from Gibraltar perform an immediate sharp turn to keep within the bay. Then there is the disputed status of the isthmus, the road between Spain and Gibraltar which includes the runway.
This story is from the January 29, 2025 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 29, 2025 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![The Brutalist and Conclave share main spoils at Baftas The Brutalist and Conclave share main spoils at Baftas](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/UBBtvwzBz1739775276723/THE-BRUTALIST-AND-CONCLAVE-SHARE-MAIN-SPOILS-AT-BAFTAS.jpg)
The Brutalist and Conclave share main spoils at Baftas
Emilia Perez controversy fails to overshadow the event
![Ukraine and Europe face exclusion from US-led talks Ukraine and Europe face exclusion from US-led talks](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/eHod1Xbr61739775564939/UKRAINE-AND-EUROPE-FACE-EXCLUSION-FROM-USLED-TALKS.jpg)
Ukraine and Europe face exclusion from US-led talks
A senior White House team is heading to Saudi Arabia ahead of possible peace talks on Ukraine amid consternation that the country is being left out of negotiations over its own future.
!['Crying' Letby is innocent, claims former nursing boss 'Crying' Letby is innocent, claims former nursing boss](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/v7yDKs7Mi1739775421273/CRYING-LETBY-IS-INNOCENT-CLAIMS-FORMER-NURSING-BOSS.jpg)
'Crying' Letby is innocent, claims former nursing boss
A retired head of nursing at Lucy Letby's hospital has said the convicted killer is innocent, describing meetings with the nurse who \"cried in my arms\".
![Starmer prepared to send British troops to Ukraine Starmer prepared to send British troops to Ukraine](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/yyBgd_Cfg1739774842586/STARMER-PREPARED-TO-SEND-BRITISH-TROOPS-TO-UKRAINE.jpg)
Starmer prepared to send British troops to Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer has announced he is willing to put British troops \"in harm's way\" on the ground in Ukraine to face down Vladimir Putin's forces.
![Zelensky 'trusts Trump' but says US must ‘hear' Ukraine Zelensky 'trusts Trump' but says US must ‘hear' Ukraine](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/ppb9ztWwL1739775639660/ZELENSKY-TRUSTS-TRUMP-BUT-SAYS-US-MUST-HEAR-UKRAINE.jpg)
Zelensky 'trusts Trump' but says US must ‘hear' Ukraine
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky spoke about his recent phone call with Donald Trump and his stance on a possible peace agreement with Russia during an interview on US television yesterday.
!['Something is destroyed inside Palestinians and I'm not sure if it can be healed' 'Something is destroyed inside Palestinians and I'm not sure if it can be healed'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/zqNPAG5281739775715367/SOMETHING-IS-DESTROYED-INSIDE-PALESTINIANS-AND-IM-NOT-SURE-IF-IT-CAN-BE-HEALED.jpg)
'Something is destroyed inside Palestinians and I'm not sure if it can be healed'
Amani Ahmed left Gaza as war broke out and was apart from family for months. She tells Alex Croft about life in the UK
!['I've spent half my life in prison for stealing a phone' 'I've spent half my life in prison for stealing a phone'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/_xyHAX6YL1739775030381/IVE-SPENT-HALF-MY-LIFE-IN-PRISON-FOR-STEALING-A-PHONE.jpg)
'I've spent half my life in prison for stealing a phone'
Leroy Douglas begs for freedom, describing his indefinite term as 'cripplingly cruel' as he nears 20 years behind bars
![FBI to help find Southport murderer's search history FBI to help find Southport murderer's search history](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/9jew7rRZh1739775502116/FBI-TO-HELP-FIND-SOUTHPORT-MURDERERS-SEARCH-HISTORY.jpg)
FBI to help find Southport murderer's search history
The FBI and US Department of Justice have agreed to help UK police investigate Southport killer Axel Rudakubana.
!['Mourinho would FaceTime me to ask what I'm doing' 'Mourinho would FaceTime me to ask what I'm doing'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/cFI3W9ADR1739776253547/MOURINHO-WOULD-FACETIME-ME-TO-ASK-WHAT-IM-DOING.jpg)
'Mourinho would FaceTime me to ask what I'm doing'
Former Man United star Jesse Lingard tells Miguel Delaney about leaving his boyhood club, ‘what might have been’ with England, and how life at FC Seoul has revitalised his career
![Spurs edge United in truly low-quality mid-table clash Spurs edge United in truly low-quality mid-table clash](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/UnoFye29g1739776042823/SPURS-EDGE-UNITED-IN-TRULY-LOWQUALITY-MIDTABLE-CLASH.jpg)
Spurs edge United in truly low-quality mid-table clash
Towards the end of Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 win over Manchester United, with the game still in the balance, both Brennan Johnson and Patrick Dorgu lost theirs.