Integration with Britain Movement chairman Joe L Caruana has declared that the people of Gibraltar should have had the right to vote in the recent British general elections. In a statement to the Chronicle he also explains the modern version of Integrationism which he describes as “the new style Integration.”

Mr Caruana said: “Have we forgotten that Gibraltar won the right to vote in the European Elections by virtue of the fact that we are part of Europe with Britain as the ‘Member State’, and that we became, for European Electoral purposes, a part of the Region of the South West of England?

 

“This was a hard fought right on a ‘Private Challenge’ by Miss Mathews and sponsored by the Self Determination Group, SDDG.

“When the European Parliament (Representation) Bill was debated in the House of Commons, on December 10th 2000, all those who spoke, but one, stated that Gibraltar should now have representation in the British Parliament and therefore have the right to vote in the UK General Elections.

Mr Caruana quotes several MP’s who supported this initiative.

He said: “Andrew Mackinlay MP said ‘I am calling now for us to have a Member of Parliament for Gibraltar. I also hope that the people of Gibraltar will ask them (UK MP’s) where they stand on extending the peoples’ franchise to their Parliament, which is this Parliament.’

“Lindsay Hoyle MP stated, ‘now that we have given the people of Gibraltar the vote in Europe, we should give them the vote in Westminster. Let us not lose sight of the importance of direct elections from Gibraltar to this House in Westminster.’

“David Ruffley MP stated, ‘It is clear that the House sees a more important role for Gibraltar in the life of this country. It certainly represents a move towards closer integration.’

“Andrew Rosindell MP, said ‘The Minister should come to the House to state that she will also give the people of Gibraltar the right to make their own decision on who will speak for them in this House as well. I welcome the Bill, principally because it takes the first step in along overdue move towards the integration of Gibraltar within the UK”.

Mr Caruana stated that the IWBM had written that there should be representation for the people of Gibraltar in the British parliament nine years ago but that in all these intervening years “the Government has done nothing to foster this move.”

He continued: “The Gibraltar public should be aware that getting representation in Westminster is the shortest and logical route to decolonisation. Our Constitution does not have to change; only a Bill headed “The British Parliament Representation Bill For Gibraltar”, would be needed as a simple and logical step for British Gibraltar.

“All other European Countries, Holland, France, Denmark, Portugal, Spain have given the vote both in the European and their National Elections to their “Overseas Territories”, none of these territories are in Europe, yet Gibraltar which is in Europe does not have Representation in their National (British) Parliament.

“I hate to think of the day when Gibraltar does not have ‘Friends’ to speak out for them. When the occasion arises, a highly probable situation, present MPs may not be elected, and others may resign, others may unfortunately die. Who would then speak for Gibraltar in the British Parliament, Straw, and Hain?

“The IWBM is determined to indefatigably continue to press for the option of representation in the British Parliament with our own autonomous governing system, the “New style Integration”.

Mr Caruana can be contacted at joelcaruana@yahoo.co.uk.