EXC: Spain secretly lobbied the US Congress to strip Britain of its sole sovereignty over Gibraltar.
7 current/ex members told me they got rebuked by the embassy after backing UK position, sometimes in “aggressive” + “belligerent” tone.
👇Quick thread...
telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/0…
7 current/ex members told me they got rebuked by the embassy after backing UK position, sometimes in “aggressive” + “belligerent” tone.
👇Quick thread...
telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/0…
Between at least 2014 and 2019 the Spanish embassy in Washington DC has been lobbying US congressmen against UK stance on Gibraltar, @Telegraph has learned.
Came through calls into offices, letters personally signed by the Spanish ambassador or requests for face-to-face meetings
Came through calls into offices, letters personally signed by the Spanish ambassador or requests for face-to-face meetings
Reminder: Gibraltar has been a point of contention between Spain and UK for at least three centuries.
The territory (3 miles squared at the southern tip of Spain) was ceded to Britain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.
It’s a British Overseas Territory. UK claims sole soverignty.
The territory (3 miles squared at the southern tip of Spain) was ceded to Britain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.
It’s a British Overseas Territory. UK claims sole soverignty.
I’ve talked to six current and one former member of the House of Representatives who said they got push back on Gibraltar.
It came after either they signed a resolution backing the UK’s sole sovereignty of Gibraltar or organised trips to the territory.
It came after either they signed a resolution backing the UK’s sole sovereignty of Gibraltar or organised trips to the territory.
Some congressmen said while diplomats should be allowed to push their case, the attitude of Spanish officials was perceived at times as “forceful” and “over the line”.
One commented: “The Spaniards went nuts.”
These are their accounts of what happened...
One commented: “The Spaniards went nuts.”
These are their accounts of what happened...
1) Gerry Connolly of Virginia
Connolly got 3 separate letters from the then Spanish ambassador after signing the pro-UK resolution.
Here’s one sent just months after the Brexit vote proposing to strip Britain of sole sovereignty of Gibraltar (!!), instead sharing it with Spain
Connolly got 3 separate letters from the then Spanish ambassador after signing the pro-UK resolution.
Here’s one sent just months after the Brexit vote proposing to strip Britain of sole sovereignty of Gibraltar (!!), instead sharing it with Spain
The letter is an insight into what Spain was trying to do after Brexit
The proposal would have seen Gibraltar residents get Spanish as well as British citizenship.
Its defence, foreign + immigration policies would be decided by Madrid as well as London. And the border would go.
The proposal would have seen Gibraltar residents get Spanish as well as British citizenship.
Its defence, foreign + immigration policies would be decided by Madrid as well as London. And the border would go.
Connolly still backs the UK’s claim.
“Gibraltar does have a population and that population does want to stay affiliated with the UK. They don't want to be incorporated into Spain” he said
(It’s unclear if the proposal to share Gibraltar was ever properly made to UK government)
“Gibraltar does have a population and that population does want to stay affiliated with the UK. They don't want to be incorporated into Spain” he said
(It’s unclear if the proposal to share Gibraltar was ever properly made to UK government)
2) George Holding of North Carolina
Holding was the one who tabled the resolution, which “recognises Gibraltar as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom”
First proposed it in 2014 + has tabled it every Congress since then. According to him, the Spanish were not pleased...
Holding was the one who tabled the resolution, which “recognises Gibraltar as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom”
First proposed it in 2014 + has tabled it every Congress since then. According to him, the Spanish were not pleased...
Holding got a letter from the then Spanish ambassador expressing “deep regret” over the resolution.
The letter argued
- Gibraltar was a “colony”
- Gibraltar has no “right to self-determination”
(Ie past referendums it had rejecting Spanish rule were not binding)
The letter argued
- Gibraltar was a “colony”
- Gibraltar has no “right to self-determination”
(Ie past referendums it had rejecting Spanish rule were not binding)
Holding said he later had a meeting with then Spanish ambassador who was “very adamant” and “very aggressive” in pushing back.
Holding told @Telegraph: “I thought they were stepping over the line in telling untruths about Gibraltar. I thought that was incredibly over the line.”
Holding told @Telegraph: “I thought they were stepping over the line in telling untruths about Gibraltar. I thought that was incredibly over the line.”
3) David Rouzer of North Carolina
Rouzer signed the pro-UK resolution. Then Spanish embassy called his office “taking me to task” for doing so.
Said push back was “one of the most if not the most confrontational” interaction he’s had with a foreign embassy while a congressman.
Rouzer signed the pro-UK resolution. Then Spanish embassy called his office “taking me to task” for doing so.
Said push back was “one of the most if not the most confrontational” interaction he’s had with a foreign embassy while a congressman.
Others got push back after organising trips to Gibraltar, including...
4) Ken Calvert of California
5) Paul Cook of California
6) Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin
7) Rodney Frelinghuysen of New Jersey (retired last year)
A summary of their stories below:
4) Ken Calvert of California
5) Paul Cook of California
6) Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin
7) Rodney Frelinghuysen of New Jersey (retired last year)
A summary of their stories below:
Why it’s interesting - usually all this happens behind closed doors. These accounts show how doggedly the Spanish have pursued their claim over Gibraltar in Washington (one which the UK firmly rejects). For at least half a decade, with persistence.
We gave a summary of all seven accounts to the Spanish embassy for comment.
They did not dispute them. They did however deny they amounted to “reprimands”.
Full response quote below.
They did not dispute them. They did however deny they amounted to “reprimands”.
Full response quote below.
If you want a full read I’ve done a 1,400 word piece with all the details on what was going on. Link below.
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telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/0…
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telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/0…
