Read the original article at Herts & Essex Observer
The Tory member for Braughing waded into the row in his capacity as chairman of the Bow Group, Britain’s oldest conservative think tank.
Asked about what would happen to Gibraltar – which was ceded to Britain in 1713 in the Treaty of Utrecht – after the Spanish government said it would seek to jointly govern with London after the Brexit vote, the Foreign Secretary told ITV1’s Peston on Sunday programme: “We will be less able to protect Gibraltar’s interests – not defend Gibraltar’s territory, of course we can do that, but to protect Gibraltar’s interests – if we are not inside the European Union.
“Gibraltar depends on thousands and thousands of Spanish workers crossing that border every day and any disruption to that flow will be extremely damaging to the Gibraltar economy and I think we saw that reflected in the huge vote to Remain in Gibraltar.”
Residents of the rock took part in Thursday’s referendum as a British overseas territory within the EU, and gave emphatic support for continued membership, with 19,322 votes for Remain against just 823 for Leave.
Mr Harris-Quinney said: “I have worked closely with members of the Spanish government and Partido Popular [a Christian democratic and conservative, political party in Spain], and have been proud to do so, but the people of Gibraltar have indicated their very clear desire that Gibraltar should remain British and that must be respected by the British and Spanish governments alike.
“The Foreign Secretary should be doing everything he can to support and defend our territories, his statement has caused great concern in Gibraltar and Britain, and cast doubt over the future of Gibraltar’s status during a time of uncertainty.
“Phillip Hammond must clarify and withdraw his statements. If he and other Remain supporting ministers are not willing to fulfil their duty with Britain now leaving the EU, they must resign with immediate effect.”