Government has chosen to accept a bad deal which protects frontier workers but not our residents permanently

The Government’s support for the Prime Minister’s bad deal protects frontier workers permanently but not the people of Gibraltar in the same way

The GSD notes the comments by Unite the Union and the relevant contributions made by Elliott Phillips MP on the debate on the Tobacco Bill on 25 March 2019.

Elliott Phillips MP:

“It is clear beyond doubt that the Government led the negotiations and have chosen to sign Gibraltar up a to deal which they said “was good for the UK and therefore good for Gibraltar”. The Government are now saying that the “deal is the wrong deal for the UK and not the best deal for Gibraltar”. The Opposition have been entirely consistent, the Government’s deal is a bad deal and no amount of spin is going to change that.

On frontier workers the Government has chosen to accept a bad deal which protects frontier workers permanent but not our residents permanently. I stand by my statement and I repeat that the Government has given Spain a say in our affairs, failed to secure enduring benefits for this community and protected frontier workers permanently without anything in return.

This is not about inciting discord. It is a statement of fact that there has been a negotiation and that frontier workers have been protected permanently. It is also a fact that in that negotiation the Government have signed up to a deal that does not protect our residents in the same way”

Extract of text by Mr Phillips in his contribution to amendments to the Tobacco Bill in Parliament on 25 March 2019.

“MR SPEAKER we have been clear, there is nothing in the MoUs that secures enduring benefits for our people, the deal provides for Spain having a say in our affairs and it protects frontier workers permanently. The Opposition has raised serious concerns over the Government’s lack of strategic direction and inconsistent approach.

We believe it was wrong for the Chief Minister of the day to align himself with the Prime Minister, it was wrong of the Chief Minister not to pursue a differentiated position for the people of this community and it was wrong for the Chief Minister to give away the biggest bargaining chip on frontier workers without obtaining anything permanent and enduring for Gibraltar”