British PM gives assurances over Gibraltar

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday gave assurances over Gibraltar with Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo by phone.

It has become one of the early flashpoints in Brexit negotiations which started last week after May triggered Article 50, the process for leaving the European Union.

An official spokesman for 10 Downing Street said: "The prime minister reiterated our long-standing position that the UK remains steadfastly committed to our support for Gibraltar, its people and its economy.

"The prime minister said we will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes, nor will we ever enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content," said the spokesman.

"The prime minister said we remain absolutely dedicated to working with Gibraltar for the best possible outcome on Brexit, and will continue to involve them fully in the process."

Gibraltar, located on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean, was ceded to Britain as part of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. Spain has persistently sought to regain the tiny southern territory.

A row has erupted after draft Brexit negotiating guidelines drawn up by the European Council identified future arrangements for Gibraltar as one of its 26 core principles.

The guidelines stated: "After the UK leaves the union, no agreement between the EU and the UK may apply to the territory of Gibraltar without agreement between Spain and the UK."

That clause has potentially put Britain and Spain on a collision course over the future of this area.