April 10, 2019
Meeting with cross party group of MPs
The Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia met with several senior Members of Parliament in London yesterday in order to put across the views of the Government in relation to Brexit, the future relationship negotiations and other matters relevant to Gibraltar.
The first meeting was with leading ‘Remain’ Conservative MP, Dominic Grieve. This allowed the Chief Minister to make it clear that the preferred option for Gibraltar is still to remain in the European Union together with the United Kingdom.
Mr Picardo and Dr Garcia then met Members of Parliament across the political spectrum at Westminster represented in the All Party Group on Gibraltar. There were Members present from the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Scottish National Party, Democratic Unionists blocs and from the newly formed Independent Group.
The wide attendance is a reflection of the strong and unwavering cross-party support that Gibraltar continues to enjoy in both in the House of Commons and in the House of Lords. This was all the more so, despite important votes in the House of Commons which were taking place at the same time. Indeed, the meeting was interrupted while MPs went out to vote and then returned.
There was considerable interest among Members of Parliament as to how they could actively help Gibraltar and they pledged their firm commitment to protect our interests going forward. There was also an opportunity to exchange views briefly with Labour Brexit spokesman Sir Kier Starmer MP and Conservatives Boris Johnson MP and Tobias Ellwood MP.
Meeting with Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP