Luis Ayllón
The British government has published on the Foreign Office’s Linkedin account a call for applications for the post of Governor of Gibraltar, a post currently held by Vice-Admiral Sir David Steel since June 2020.
The announcement made by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stresses that applicants must be British citizens and specifies that it is a “full-time” job.
After outlining the tasks carried out by the British Foreign Office, the advertisement recalls that the Governor of Gibraltar is the representative of His Majesty the King in Gibraltar and points out that he has ‘a number of constitutional responsibilities of fundamental importance’.
These responsibilities include, it notes, the formal appointment of the Chief Minister of Gibraltar and his Government, following elections. “It also includes oversight of Gibraltar’s military forces and good governance, as well as sole responsibility for defence and security.
To encourage applicants, the Foreign Office stresses that the role of Overseas Territory Governor “is unique in the public service”. It adds: “It is a high-level and highly political post. It is demanding but rewarding”.
He explains that the Governor is at the heart of the relationship between London and the Overseas Territories, and recalls that, at the moment, he has a great challenge because negotiations with Brussels on Gibraltar’s future relationship with the EU are underway.
On this point, he warns: “While we hope that these negotiations will be concluded at the beginning of the current term of office, there is also the possibility that we could face another period without a negotiated outcome. The territory could go through a period of change as it adapts to a new relationship”.
The announcement warns that Gibraltar’s location means that security issues remain a strategic priority and points out to the applicants that “under Gibraltar’s Constitution, the Governor (and ultimately the UK) has powers over defence and internal security”, so that whoever is chosen should lead the assessment and mitigation of potential threats to Gibraltar and UK interests, working closely with the Ministry of Defence, the Commander of British Forces (CBF) Gibraltar and the Government of Gibraltar.
It also states that the Governor will chair, together with the colony’s chief minister, the Gibraltar Contingency Council, and will lead the defence and security aspects of the territory’s resilience. “As Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, he will work closely with the CBF, supporting its objectives of ensuring an agile and modern military presence in Gibraltar,” it states.
In summary, it states that the Governor’s main responsibilities will be:
-Represent His Majesty the King in Gibraltar.
-To act in accordance with and uphold the Constitution of Gibraltar.
-To exercise executive responsibilities, in accordance with the UK Government’s policy towards Gibraltar, including foreign affairs, defence, internal security and certain functions in relation to the appointment of public officers in Gibraltar.
-Work in partnership with the Chief Minister and the Government of Gibraltar, and support the policy and activity of the UK Government.
-Act as Commander-in-Chief of British Forces in Gibraltar.
-Playing a visible role in supporting community relations and maintaining a high public profile.
Leading a diverse team of local and UK-based personnel, ensuring a team approach, with a commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.
