It has been only five days since Article 50 was triggered but there has already been talk of ‘war’ between two European nations, after ex-Conservative leader Michael Howard inferred that Theresa May would act to defend the sovereignty of Gibraltar.
The row was began over the weekend after draft Brexit negotiating guidelines published by the EU showed that any decisions affecting Gibraltar would need to be run past Spain.
The guidelines read: “After the United Kingdom leaves the Union, no agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom may apply to the territory of Gibraltar without the agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and the United Kingdom.”
Sir Michael Fallon, Britain’s Defence Secretary, said that Britain would be prepared to go “all the way” to protect the sovereignty of Gibraltar, a British overseas territory.
Former Conservative leader Lord Howard also commented, drawing parallels with Margaret Thatcher’s decision to go to war in the Falklands. He said:
“Another woman prime minister sent a taskforce halfway across the world to protect another small group of British people against another Spanish-speaking country.
“And I’m absolutely clear that our current woman prime minister will show the same resolve in relation to Gibraltar as her predecessor did.”
The comments from both men were largely condemned by both Labour and Liberal Democrats, with many taking to Twitter to point out that it had been less than a week since Brexit was triggered and already there was talk of ‘war’.
In a press conference on Sunday, Spanish foreign minister Alfonso Dastis said the government had been “surprised” by the “tone” of the comments from Britain, adding that usually “Britain is a country known for its composure”.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said that the UK’s support for Gibraltar will remain “implacable and rock-like”.