The Diplomat
Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo yesterday expressed his gratitude to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who yesterday announced his resignation amid a serious political crisis, for his “unwavering support” for Gibraltar despite Brexit.
“I am acutely aware that behind every political drama we see played out on our screens there is a human tragedy involving a person and a family,” said Picardo, who was in Madrid yesterday, along with Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia, to participate in new round of technical talks on the future treaty between the UK and the EU for Gibraltar.
“Whatever we might have thought of some of the decisions that Boris Johnson has led the United Kingdom to, in particular the decision for the UK to leave the European Union, we must also never forget the support that Boris Johnson has given Gibraltar as Prime Minister during the Covid pandemic, making lifesaving vaccines available immediately to us and agreeing the £500 million sovereign guarantee which has been hugely valuable to us,” Picardo continued, as quoted in the Gibraltar Chronicle newspaper. “For that, and his unwavering support in the negotiations for a UK-EU Treaty on Gibraltar, we must thank him always,” he added.
Picardo made these statements just an hour after Boris Johnson announced his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party during a press conference at the door of 10 Downing Street, after a wave of scandals that precipitated the resignation of more than 50 members of his government. “The Conservative Party should have a new leader and, therefore, a new prime minister,” declared the chief executive, who specified that he will remain in office “until there is a new leader.” The timetable for choosing Johnson’s successor will be announced next week. Johnson spoke to Queen Elizabeth II before appearing at the press conference.
Fabian Picardo did not comment on the impact that the British political crisis could have on the negotiation process with the EU. In a brief press release, the Government assured last Wednesday that it “remains fully committed to secure a treaty for Gibraltar in line with the New Year’s Eve Agreement and will leave no stone unturned, working closely with the United Kingdom, in order to achieve it”.
