Vocal Voices

I've been reading this for a while, so I thought I'd try and sum it up. For me this is the defining part.

Although it is part of the EU, Gibraltar is outside the customs union and VAT area and is exempted from the Common Agricultural Policy; it does not form part of the Schengen Area.[78] As a separate jurisdiction to the UK, Gibraltar's government and parliament are responsible for the transposition of EU law into local law.

Essentially all that was granted to Spain was the right to object to giving Gibraltar something it did not already have as a member of the EU. If Gib were to become part of a new UK/EU trading deal, then it would have a significant advantage over where it stands today.

This BS about Joint sovereignty is just that. BS. It is the wet dream of the Spanish government and is not enshrined in the deal.

So I'd love it if the shouters would tone it down a bit.

This is where pragmatism hits sensationalism. We need a pragmatic exit and May is being pragmatic. As she says, nothing will change and it is true, nothing will change for Gibraltar except for the fact that they won't be in the EU any more. They will still be a British overseas territory, they will still govern under Westminster's rule and Spain will remain without One Single Word of representation in the day to day governing of Gibraltar.

Anyway, May could be betting on the fact that Parliament reject the deal and the EU have to go and change stuff. Either way nothing will change. This is all hot air and grandstanding by the Spanish.

Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory so not part of the UK; it is self-governing but with defence and foreign relations remaining with the British government.

Gib has been an on-off problem for over 300 years, well before the EEC/EU. When I was in the mob in the 70s and 80s we sent ships and planes there and with the army we held 'exercises' during times of political tension between Spain and the UK - more than a few times.

During the negotiations it has been used as a point scoring pawn by both sides and the media has used it as click-bait in headlines to lots of non-stories.