Gibraltar’s chief minister calls for Britain to rejoin EU and claims Brexit voters were ‘led down the garden path’

Ed Griffiths
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:03:20 +0000

Britain should rejoin the European Union, Gibraltar's chief minister has said.

Fabian Picardo, who has served in the position since 2011, was supportive of the new Brexit deal, which implemented a "shared prosperity zone" between the British Overseas Territory and the EU.

Gibraltar has been under British control for over 300 years, with Spain ceding control in 1713.

The agreement, brought in by Sir Keir Starmer, removed physical border barriers with Spain while preserving British sovereignty over the territory.

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Physical barriers and routine immigration checks at the land border will be removed, allowing approximately 15,000 daily workers and tourists to cross freely.

Now Mr Picardo argues that Britain should go one step further and fully rejoin the EU, effectively reversing the 2016 referendum.

Speaking to representatives of Spain’s business community at an event in Madrid, the minister said: "I hope to see the UK rejoin the EU.

"The British public have come to see that they were led down the garden path by the Leave campaign."

He added: "The treaty on Gibraltar could be a road map for a rapprochement between the UK and the EU, something we desire to see."

Britons travelling to the territory will face two checks, including one by Spanish officials acting on behalf of the EU.

If you are not a resident, you must register fingerprints and facial biometrics under the EU's Entry/Exit System upon your first arrival.

Those seeking citizenship now must be vetted by Spain to ensure they do not pose a threat to Schengen security.

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In the two months after the deal was agreed, triple the usual number for residency applications for an entire year were received in Gibraltar, according to Mr Picardo.

Mr Picardo hailed the deal as "truly historic" and appeared to open the doors to Spanish businesses, urging companies to relocate to the "Campo de Gibraltar" area.

It comes as eurosceptics have accused Sir Keir of seeking to "drag Britain back under EU control through backdoor attempts".

The Government has repeatedly said it would not be rejoining the EU, its single market, or the customs union, and that there would be no return to freedom of movement.

The Prime Minister, who campaigned to reverse the result of the 2016 referendum as Jeremy Corbyn’s Shadow Brexit Secretary, is set to introduce legislation to align the UK with future Brussels-derived directives without normal parliamentary scrutiny.

However, Brexit-backing MPs appear hamstrung from amending or opposing secondary legislation that seeks to bind Britain to the Brussels bloc.

GB News understands MPs will only retain the ability to rubber-stamp new deals rather than debate and vote on all new directives.

"Watch this space," a long-time Eurosceptic campaigner told GB News. "There are plans afoot."