Foreign Office rejects Gibraltar plan for sovereignty referendum

Gibraltar's bid to pre-empt any British-Spanish agreement on its future by holding its own referendum on sovereignty was rejected out of hand by the Foreign Office

The plan for a referendum, which sets the colony on an open collision course with the British government, was announced in a broadcast last night by Gibraltar's chief minister, Peter Caruana.

It was immediately rejected by the Government. A Foreign Office spokesman said: "The question this referendum will not answer is how to secure a stable and prosperous future for Gibraltar in a changing world.

"What we would not recognise is a referendum called simply to reject the Government's policy without any thought, discussion or time for proper debate. That would short–circuit democracy and short–change the people of Gibraltar," the spokesman said.

Mr Caruana conceded that, as the colonial power, only Britain had the authority to organise a binding referendum in Gibraltar. But, he said: "The British government will not be able to deny that, for political purposes, our referendum will constitute the freely and democratically expressed wishes of the people of Gibraltar. Any attempt to deny it will lack democratic and political credibility."

Two weeks ago, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, infuriated Gibraltarians and the Tory opposition by telling MPs Britain and Spain had reached agreement in principle on "shared sovereignty" over the Rock.

A new flurry of diplomatic activity has shown movement on the remaining sticking points, including the future status of British military installations in Gibraltar. Tony Blair confirmed last night Britain was prepared to grant Spain access to a British naval base on the rock.

If a referendum is held, there is no doubt Gibraltarians will vote overwhelmingly against any change in their sovereignty. At the last referendum, held in 1967, there were only 44 votes, out of more than 12,000, in favour of joining Spain. And, while Spain is now a democracy and a member of the European Union and Nato, feeling in Gibraltar still runs high against any change. The strength of feeling was evident when Jack Straw visited the Rock in April and almost the whole population turned out to demonstrate against him.

Britain has promised that no agreement with Spain will come into effect without the consent of the people but British ministers have also said any agreement, once reached, will be final and will remain on the statute book of both countries, even if not implemented. Recently, Britain has hinted it might not solicit Gibraltar's approval for several years after concluding any agreement with Spain.

Mr Caruana said that the colony would continue pursuing its other line of resistance – through the courts.