891
[Sir Nigel Fisher]
British Nationality Bill
2 JUNE 1981
uncharitable if I say that his recent comments, made publicly in Gibraltar and in Spain, added fuel to the fears of the Gibraltarians. He said:
"Why should 20,000 Gibraltarians stand in the way of the interests of 36 million Spaniards and 50 million Britons?” That remark sent a shiver down every Gibraltarian back, and it was quoted to me in Gibraltar last week again and again.
The Gibraltarians know that our resolve to support and sustain Gibraltar is implemented by Ministers on an administrative basis, and they are genuinely afraid that a future British Government might be tempted to improve its relations with Spain-perphaps through the Lisbon agreement by abandoning Gribraltar. I tried to allay these fears because I do not believe that any British Government would let Gibraltar down. But the people there would feel much safer and much more secure if there were a statutory guarantee such as is suggested in new clause 7. That could not be interpreted in any other colony as discrimination in favour of Gibraltar, because no other colony has Gibraltar's special-indeed, unique-status under article 227 of the Treaty of Rome, through which Gibraltarians are United Kingdom nationals for EEC purposes.
That is the basis of their entitlement to special treatment, and it is unlike the position of any other colony. But apart from the European status, no other dependent territory has ever challenged the favourable treatment that Gibraltar has always enjoyed. It has never been invoked as a precedent by anybody else, so I do not think it could or would be used, for instance, in Hong Kong or even in the Falkland Islands, which I also support.
Nor are British interests affected in any way because there has been no immigration of numerical significance from Gibraltar to Britain at any time nor will there be in the future. In practice, therefore, no problem arises either for Britain or for Gibraltar. The problem in Gibraltar is, quite simply, psychological. All her institutions are British; her system of government, her judicial system, her public services, her educational system, her police force and even her radio and television services are all modelled on ours. Many of her trade unions are branches of trade unions in Britain, and of course, her imports and tourists are almost entirely from this country.
There is one other point that I should like hon. Members to bear in mind. The people of Gibraltar have been under British rule and British protection for 270 years during which we have built up and used Gibraltar for our defence purposes, despite which the people still like us very much, which is rather warming and unusual in the modern world. It is no longer fashionable to talk of patriotism but people of my generation remember the days when the red on every school atlas and the power of the British Navy made us proud to be British.
Gibraltar remains as a reminder of those days. It has a special place in the hearts of English people, just as Britain has a special place in the hearts of every Gibraltarian, so this debate is really about people and how they feel. I understand very well how the Gibraltarians feel. I know how let down they would feel if their friends in this House did not support them. It is for that reason that I must, for the first time since about 1965, vote against my party in the Lobby tonight.
British Nationality Bill
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Mr. Garel-Jones: I am sure every hon. Member wi appreciate that the motives behind those who hay supported the new clause are none other than the dee affection and loyalty felt by everyone in the House and į the country towards the people of Gibraltar. I was shocke to hear my hon. Friend the Member for Surbiton (Sir A Fisher) quoting remarks made by the hon. Member f Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley). I am sure that thos remarks will be repudiated by every hon. Member, fro whichever side of the House he may come.
Many hon. Members have referred to the importan of the relationship with Spain. The right hon. Member f Down, South (Mr. Powell), speaking in Committee, saj that if the purpose of the new clause was carried throug it would not make a significant difference to any futu decision that the people of Gibraltar might take about the status or whether that might even mean a move towar Spain. He was probably right in saying that.
The only small contribution that I can make to th debate is to say to the right hon. Gentleman and to t House that he frequently protests to us late at night whe orders are laid separately for Irish business instead of bei included in general legislation.
Mr. Stanbrook: Northern Irish.
Mr. Garel-Jones: I am sorry; I should have said { Northern Irish business. My hon. Friend the Member Orpington (Mr. Stanbrook) immediately corrected when I said "Irish" rather than "Northern Irish" busine The reason why the right hon. Member for Down, So is so assiduous in doing that, and the reason why my ho Friend the Member for Orpington rightly picks me up, the point, is that that is perceived in Northern Ireland affecting its position in the United Kingdom. Many of may think that they are making niggling points. We kn that the House is at one in wishing to preserve the un of the United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland is part of They know that a slight slip-up of the kind I have j committed can be perceived in Northern Ireland undermining the closeness and unity of Northern Irela with the United Kingdom.
I am utterly convinced that the commitments that Gibraltarians have had from this House as outli particularly in the Gibraltar Constitution Order 1969; copper-bottomed, and any acceptance of the clause wą be perceived by the Spanish people as a move to the the warm and cordial relations now being built up betw our two countries. Therefore, I urge the House to reject clause.
11.45 pm
Mr. Whitelaw: I have sought to take as little tim I can to give as many of my hon. Friends as possibl chance to speak. I hope, therefore, that I may be given chance to make what is not a very easy speech, and¡ my hon. Friends will do me the courtesy of listen carefully to what I have to say, even where they may wholly accept the position.
The clause was moved with great passion and feeli which I fully appreciate, by my hon. Friend the Men for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. McQuarrie). As he sai would not remove Gibraltar from the ambit of Br overseas citizenship. Rather, it would entitle a citize the British dependent territories from Gibraltar to h British citizenship if he asked for it. The clause does
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