PM mired in fresh crisis over Gibraltar as 'national asset' to fall under EU control in 'surrender' deal

In that report, Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel warned that sovereignty guarantees have once again “fallen apart” under the "secret" deal between Britain and Spain, claiming that it smacked of a "dodgy cover-up" (a claim the Government strenuously denied, insisting that the treaty would be subject to full Parliamentary scrutiny).

Britain originally seized Gibraltar from Spain in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession and formally secured sovereignty under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, maintaining control of the strategically vital territory at the entrance to the Mediterranean ever since.

Sovereignty of the British Overseas Territory is subject to a long-standing dispute between the two countries, with the territory's military base acting as a key strategic flashpoint.

Owned by the Ministry of Defence and operated by the RAF, the sovereignty of Gibraltar airport has been a particular sticking point in negotiations.

Under the new treaty, set to be ratified by Brussels in the coming weeks, the British MoD airport will become a 50/50 joint venture between the UK and Spain and managed by an airport management company headquartered in the EU, the People's Channel understands.

It is not yet clear whether this will be limited only to the airport building itself, but in any event, the intrusion of an EU country in any aspect of the running of the airport could be considered an incursion on British sovereignty.

The full treaty text also reveals:

• Entry checks on third-country nationals will be carried out by the Gibraltar authorities and then by Spain (as the neighbouring Schengen State).
• If you arrive from UK (third country) you would enter through a separate entrance next to the existing one, and go to the second line checks area, where Gibraltar and Schengen would carry out controls. Schengen interaction would be with the Automated Border Control System. Those not eligible will go to Schengen Immigration booths.
• Anyone refused entry at the airport by the Gibraltar authorities will be taken to the Second Line Checks Area where Spanish officials will review whether they are legally entitled to enter Schengen.
• Spain can also refuse entry to third country nationals who do not comply with the Schengen Borders Code. The individual will be given the option to be sent back.
• Spain can refuse entry to anyone flagged on the Schengen system.
• Gibraltar would have jurisdiction for anyone flagged on its system.
• Gibraltar would be the only competent authority for any Gibraltar resident, although Spain would be notified for further checks on the Schengen database.
• Gibraltar has to make flight Advance Passenger Information available to Spain.
• The Gibraltar authorities have the power to grant asylum following consultation with Spain. The applicant must be detained in Gibraltar until a final decision is taken. If granted, the international protection is limited to Gibraltar.
• Spanish officials present at the airport outside the second line checks area could be in uniform within the immigration booths.
• Spanish officials outside the Immigration booths, between check areas, could be in civilian clothes, but always identifiable.

Chagos 2.0? 

RAF Gibraltar acts as a key, strategic NATO base, and the British Overseas Territory is home to a major SIGINT base, which monitors traffic in the Mediterranean area and beyond.

The security implications of the treaty deal, therefore, set the stage for another battle between Keir Starmer's Government and the Conservatives.

Former Brexit minister David Jones told GB News: "Gibraltar is a sovereign British territory.

"To contemplate placing a key national asset such as the airport terminal under the management of a foreign company, while granting Spain effective control over access by British citizens to our own territory, amounts to a clear surrender of sovereignty.

"Under Keir Starmer’s feeble administration, perpetual retreat is repackaged as diplomacy.”

Responding to the release of the treaty text, Shadow Minister Wendy Morton MP, told GB News: “This is a treaty of over a thousand pages with profound constitutional changes that fundamentally reshape how Gibraltar’s border, airport and legal framework will operate, yet Parliament has not seen a single page of it.

“Gibraltar is British. Its people have repeatedly and overwhelmingly chosen to remain under British sovereignty. Any treaty that hands Spain new powers over entry, residency, infrastructure or enforcement must be examined line by line by Parliament before it takes effect.

“Parliament cannot be expected to sign a blank cheque to the EU. We need the full treaty in front of us before a single provision is allowed to take effect.”

Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said: “This treaty ensures that Gibraltar’s economy, people, and future are protected as an integral part of the British family.

“Working closely with the Government of Gibraltar – and agreeing nothing without their consent – we have a treaty that preserves sovereignty and delivers certainty when Gibraltar’s way of life was threatened.

“The UK’s commitment to Gibraltar will never falter.”Facts4EU also revealed to the People's Channel that the treaty is set to be applied provisionally - including all its provisions – in advance of its full ratification.

This will occur at the end of the month following completion of the new border works, which have been under construction for many weeks by the Spanish and Gibraltarian governments.

The Spanish government acquired an area of land for this purpose, and it is thought that this work will be accelerated. This includes a new road for the airport.

In the previous report for GB News, Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel hounded the Government over its lack of transparency on the negotiations, claiming that it gave off the impression the Government had "something to hide".

Starmer's Chagos Islands deal has faced similar criticism, particularly over the exclusion of the Chagossian community and opaque financial arrangements.

GB News has reached out to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for comment.