Treaty is a 'vaccine' to problems caused by far Right, CM tells Barcelona conference

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo has told an international gathering of progressive politicians in Barcelona that the deal reached on Gibraltar's post-Brexit future represents a "vaccine" for the longstanding frontier problem between Gibraltar and the people of the Campo de Gibraltar.

Speaking at the Global Progressive Mobilisation conference at the invitation of Spanish Premier Pedro Sánchez, Mr Picardo placed the blame for Brexit squarely on the moderate and far Right, drawing laughter from the audience with a pointed jibe at former Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Margallo, suggesting he would soon be receiving his Vox membership card.

The Chief Minister used his address to draw a sharp contrast between Left and Right, arguing that while the Right had created the problem, it was the Left that had sought and found solutions - not only to Brexit's consequences, but to the opportunities it had unexpectedly presented, even within what he described as a "frontier light" scenario.

Mr Picardo paid tribute to Premier Sánchez, saying the Spanish leader had maintained from the very beginning that a solution could be found which did not involve the question of sovereignty.

Turning to the international picture, Mr Picardo said the return of Donald Trump to the White House sent one clear message to the continent: Europe must be more united than ever. He warned that internal infighting on the Left would only serve to benefit the Right.

The Chief Minister closed on a historic note, saying that the solutions now within reach would take Gibraltar and the surrounding region back to a time before Franco - to a border-free relationship between Gibraltar and its neighbours.