Lord Cameron says proposed Gibraltar treaty is different from NI Protocol because 'you can leave it'

Lord Cameron also said he “understands the meaning of sovereignty” in Gibraltar – as he faced questions from MPs over the governments deal with the EU on the British territory.

DUP peer Lord Dodds has criticised the government for “subjugating” sovereignty in Northern Ireland but applying different criteria to Gibraltar.

Former PM Cameron said that the government didn’t want to see UK sovereignty over the outpost on the south coast of the Spanish mainland diminished. After Brexit, the Gibraltarian government’s stated position is to have a frictionless border with Spain to maintain its economy – prompting complicated negotiations on the Rock’s border arrangements.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson pressed the foreign secretary on the government’s red lines on negotiations about the post-Brexit negotiations with the EU over the Rock – including on EU law and the free movement of British citizens.

Lord Cameron said the treaty relating to Gibraltar is different from the NI Protocol. “This is a treaty which if you don’t like it, it has termination clauses – you can leave it”.

Lord Dodds said the government is treating part of the “actual UK differently and subjugating its sovereignty. That’s ok but not Gibraltar.

“Cameron and his government show how far short we are from solving basic flaws of the Windsor Framework/ Protocol. It must be revisited”.

Questioned by committee chair Sir Bill Cash, Lord Cameron said: “I think I understand the meaning of sovereignty, which is you know, Gibraltar is a sovereign UK territory and that shouldn’t and won’t change. In our negotiations there are three things which are absolutely paramount.

“One is the sovereignty of Gibraltar.

“The second is the operation of the defence facility.

“And the third is trying to achieve a deal that is good for the people of Gibraltar and crucially backed by the Government of Gibraltar”.