La Linea Mayor Juan Carlos Juarez (speaking) and PP members at the frontier press conference.

Spain has taken “a definitive step” toward renouncing its 300-year claim over Gibraltar, according to Spain’s main opposition party, the Popular Party.

The PP’s regional general secretary, Antonio Sanz, said the presence of Spain’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, Miguel Angel Moratinos, in Gibraltar yesterday was “an insult to the dignity of Spain”.

“This is a definitive step by the Spanish government toward renouncing the struggle to regain Spanish sovereignty over the Rock,” he said.

Sr Sanz was speaking against the backdrop of the Rock during an open air press conference called by the PP at the border ahead of the minister’s arrival in Gibraltar.

Also present were PP mayors from the Campo area as well as the party’s regional MP, Jose Ignacio Landaluce.

The common them was of complete opposition to the visit and the language was often cutting.

“It’s a betrayal of the interests of Spain,” Sr Landaluce said, describing the trip as “Moratinos’s folly”.

“Unfortunately today, the only one who is succeeding is the mayor of the colony of Gibraltar, Mr Caruana, and the one who is failing is Spain’s foreign affairs minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos.”

Fernando Palma, mayor of San Roque, and Juan Carlos Juárez, his counterpart in La Linea, said the PSOE government should give greater focus to Spanish workers in Gibraltar and to the Campo in general.

“We want to continue having good relations with the Gibraltarians,” Sr Palma said. “But what worries me…is that knowing the problems that we have in our towns, knowing how many people are out of work and going hungry in the Campo de Gibraltar, a minister of my government come to offer even more to Gibraltar.”