Tory MPs fear Gibraltar concessions to reach post-Brexit trade deal

Lord Cameron arrives in Brussels for talks with his counterparts from Spain and the EU on Friday – Omar Havana/AP

Tory MPs fear the Government has made concessions in trade talks on Gibraltar in order to appease Spain and reach a post-Brexit deal.

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, was in Brussels on Friday for talks with his counterparts from Spain and the EU, as well as Fabian Picardo, Gibraltar’s chief minister, about Gibraltar’s border.

It was announced after the talks that a political agreement had been secured, with hopes that technical discussions can be wrapped up within weeks.

But no details have been made public about how sensitive issues, which have seen 18 rounds of talks drag on for years, have been settled behind closed doors.

Tory MPs have privately raised concerns about whether Spanish boots on the ground would be allowed at Gibraltar’s airport, which Madrid has been demanding to co-manage, in some form.

Sir William Cash, the Tory chairman of the European scrutiny committee, also said he wanted assurances that the UK’s military operations in Gibraltar had not been “compromised”.

He said: “Gibraltar has been at the epicentre of Western defence. It was pivotal in the Second World War. There are so many aspects that demand sensitive and serious handling. We must be absolutely sure that this does not compromise the British national interest.”

Lord Cameron and Fabian Picardo, Gibraltar’s chief minister, at the talks in Brussels – Kirsty O’Connor/FCDO

Gibraltar’s airport houses an RAF base. Some Tories are insisting Spain must not have the right to approve military flights, and are vowing to force the terms of the deal to a Commons vote.

Amid the concerns about potential concessions, The Telegraph can reveal that a Red Arrows display over Gibraltar was cancelled after Spain warned that it would be seen as a “hostile act” and trigger a retaliation.

Leaked diplomatic cables show that Madrid privately warned that the display, planned for the Gibraltar Air Show on Sept 28, was “gratuitous and provocative”.

British diplomats were first told that Spain would not give approval for the flights to go ahead, only for the UK to counter that permission was not needed because it was British air space.

Then Spain warned that if the display went ahead it “would seek to prevent it from happening”, insisting the response from Madrid would not be “mild”.

In the end, the Red Arrows appearance was scrapped, with some UK officials admitting concerns that the row could impact talks on Gibraltar’s post-Brexit border arrangements.

The decision was taken despite the King’s representative in Gibraltar warning that pulling the display would show “weakness” that Spain would “undoubtedly exploit”.

The stand-off was deemed so significant that James Cleverly, then the Foreign Secretary, and Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, were briefed on what was happening.

It can also be revealed that an earlier visit to Gibraltar by HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest vessel ever constructed for the Royal Navy, was cancelled to “appease” Spain.

The disclosures shine a light on the political sensitivities in both Spain and the UK about Gibraltar, an area of 2.5 square miles known as the Rock, and its post-Brexit future.

It is also set to trigger a debate about whether the British Government has been too willing to bow to pressure from Spain, and what other concessions have been made in private.

Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory on the tip of southern Spain, was ceded to Great Britain in 1713, but Madrid continues to claim sovereignty over it.

A joint statement from Britain and Spain after the talks said: “General political lines have been agreed, including on airport, goods and mobility. Negotiations will continue over the coming weeks to conclude the UK-EU Agreement.

Mr Picardo said a deal was “in kissing distance”, while Jose Manuel Albares, Spain’s foreign minister, said: “Today was a very important day in which important advances have been made.” Lord Cameron did not comment on the talks.

Speaking about the Red Arrows revelations, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “As part of operational planning, a variety of potential display dates and locations are considered by the RAF. A wide range of factors influence whether these are able to proceed.”

Play The Telegraph’s brilliant range of Puzzles – and feel brighter every day. Train your brain and boost your mood with PlusWord, the Mini Crossword, the fearsome Killer Sudoku and even the classic Cryptic Crossword.