Should Dave Be Going To Gib?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36548175
No doubt he's going try and scare the bejesus out them by some sort of "threat" but surely the status of Gib is not an issue here is it?

[ladybirder]

I heard he's cancelled due to the MP shooting/stabbing incident in Leeds.

[Mamyalynne]

http://www.kiiitv.com/story/32237418/the-latest-cameron-cancels-gibraltar-speech-after-mp-shot

[chrissa1]

It's been on the News very soon after this was reported that he was, Not, going to Gibraltar.

Keep up, TTT.

[ToraToraTora]

sorry, not glued to it!

[jourdain2]

I'm a bit puzzled because I'm sure I read - or heard somewhere - that Gibraltarians had postal votes and had already voted.

[Old_Geezer]

Perhaps he was going over to berate them for their choice ?

[youngmafbog]

Perhaos ge was gojng house hunting for when he is lobbed out in a couple of weeks time.

[EDDIE51]

The status of Gibraltar is very much an issue!
Spain wants the UK out and Gibraltar back as part of Spain. That will be a lot easier to argue if we and therefor Gibraltar are out of the EU. Conversely it is much harder to achieve while Spain and Gibraltar are both members of the EU.
The status of Gibraltar is one of the main points of the 'Remain' campaine.
Which is why 'Dave' was going, not to threaten but to reassure them that we will never let the Spanish have 'The Rock'. However leaving the EU will make our claim on Gibraltar weaker.

[Gromit]

Gibralter is very pro-EU. Cameron was going there not to scare them, but to encourage as many of them as possible to vote. They are expecting a high tirnout, with most people voting to stay. There is little doubt of the result in Gibralter, and it is in the Remainers interest to milk every drop of Stay votes there.

// High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email [email protected] to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f16a8256-0547-11e6-9b51-0fb5e65703ce.html#ixzz4Bn1Vqjie

By all accounts, Gibraltar is united in its desire for the UK to remain a member of the EU. A poll published last Friday by the Gibraltar Chronicle, the local newspaper, found that 88 per cent of the population would back EU membership in the referendum on June 23. Turnout is expected to be above 80 per cent. //

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f16a8256-0547-11e6-9b51-0fb5e65703ce.html#axzz4Bn14cQZt

[mushroom25]

//Gibralter is very pro-EU. //
//By all accounts, Gibraltar is united in its desire for the UK to remain a member of the EU//

so if the vote is "leave", are gibraltarians likely to petition to cede to spain?

[EDDIE51]

No Gibraltarians are VERY pro British. Even if we leave the EU they do not want to be part of Spain. But our claim to retain control of Gibraltar will be a lot weaker if we leave the EU.

[naomi24]

^Why?

[EDDIE51]

jourdain2 No Gibraltar votes on the 23rd same day as we do, they can ask for a postal vote but they have their own polling stations ready for the 23rd.
A turnout of 80% is expected and of that the prediction is 88% 'Remain'.

[ToraToraTora]

why have they even got the vote? Gib is not even in the EU.

[EDDIE51]

naomi , read this
http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/History-of-Gibraltar/
Spain has laid siege to Gibraltar several times over the years. Even to day Spain makes access to and from Gibraltar as difficult as possible.
As there is virtually no work in Gibraltar , it is just 6 Kilometers Sq , the population has to cross the border into Spain every day to get to work. Long queues are the norm as Spanish border controls make unnecessary checks, just to waste time. If we leave the EU Spain is expected to close the only land crossing point and put Gibraltar effectively 'under siege' once again.
They can not close the land border as long as the EU and Spain are both in the EU !. That is why Gibraltar is so pro British and pro EU !

[Old_Geezer]

I suspect they are concerned about the gate to Spain being closed or long queues checking papers. But our PM has a perfect right to speak to them, Gibraltar is a British overseas territory and the citizens there are British. Spain's objections merely demonstrate their unreasonable attitude to the rights of the Gibraltarians.

Legally, outside of the EU, the UK claim on Gibraltar must remain indisputable by any reasonable person, since nothing has changed to effect it. But outside the EU, Spanish envy may not be so tempered, causing friction.

[Old_Geezer]

And had I been quicker typing that would have been two posts further up the thread.

[Old_Geezer]

It is my understanding that they are in the EU as part of the UK membership.

[naomi24]

Eddie, Spain has always caused difficulties with Gibraltar in all sorts of ways. That isn't a good enough reason for the whole of the United Kingdom to concede to the rule of the EU.

[Old_Geezer]

It may tip the balance as far as the most Gibraltarians are concerned though. If they think the option would make it unviable to remain in the UK.