Clause 10 - Establishment of combined region
European Parliament (Representation) Bill
10:30 am
Mr Andrew Rosindell (Romford, Conservative)
You will know of my interest in the subject of Gibraltar, Mr. Cook—indeed, it was only a year ago that you and I were there—and you will know the strength of feeling among the British people on the Rock. I hope that hon. Members will try to understand why the people of Gibraltar are so passionate about the Bill.
They are British as we are British. They feel pride in their heritage, history and culture, as our constituents and we do. Yet despite joining the European Union—the European Economic Community, as it was in the early 1970s—at the same time and under the same accession treaty as the United Kingdom, they have been denied the right to speak on issues that affect them. I ask all Members to consider whether they would tolerate their constituents' being denied the democratic right to vote and speak on issues that affect them in the European Parliament or in this place.
I hope that there will be a greater understanding of the passion that is felt among Gibraltarians. My hon. Friend the Member for Stone referred to the recent referendum in Gibraltar. I was there at the time. For the record, I wish to declare an interest, having visited Gibraltar on several occasions as a guest of the Government of Gibraltar.
You will know, Mr. Cook, how determined the people of Gibraltar are to retain their Britishness and their sense of belonging to the United Kingdom. It is good news that at long last the Bill has come before Parliament. Very shortly, the people of Gibraltar will have a vote in European Parliament elections, at least. However, the Minister will acknowledge that the Government have not sought to allow that. It has been forced upon the Government. I do not believe for one moment that the Government would be introducing the Bill had the matter not been resolved by law.
Shamefully, Labour and Conservative Governments have ignored the people of Gibraltar for all this time. It is good news that the Bill is before the House, and the people of Gibraltar will get a vote in European elections. It would add insult to injury if the name of Gibraltar were excluded from the name of the region in which the Rock is to be included. I hope
that the Minister will consider that vital point of my hon. Friend the Member for Stone. It is very insulting to Gibraltarians that they are being given the vote reluctantly and the name of Gibraltar is not acknowledged in the name of the region.
Of course, Gibraltar is not geographically part of any region in the UK. It is not part of the south-west, London, or Northern Ireland. It is a peninsula attached to Spain. However, it is British, and will be included in European elections in the UK. How can it not be recognised in the name of whichever constituency it may be a part? The name must surely be given prominence and recognition in the Bill. If it is not, the people of Gibraltar will rightly feel hurt. I hope that the Minister will seriously consider the matter.
I know that the Government are reluctant about the Bill, but if they are going to give the people of Gibraltar the right to vote in the elections, let them do that with a good heart. I ask the Government to do it as if they really want to, even though deep down they perhaps did not want to do it in the first place. They should give Gibraltar the recognition the people of the Rock deserve by including the name of Gibraltar in the name of the region that it is included within.