Rock could seek ‘hybrid’ status if Britain leaves EU - Picardo

Gibraltar may be able to secure ‘a hybrid status’ within the European single market in the event of a British exit from the European Union, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said yesterday.

Speaking on the BBC’s Daily Politics programme, Mr Picardo said it was ‘difficult’ to see how Gibraltar could stay in the EU if the UK voted to leave in the forthcoming referendum on membership.

But he added: “Gibraltar could come to an arrangement to maintain some of the bits of the European Union's rules that the United Kingdom might not like.”

"There could be a hybrid type of - I hesitate to say membership - but a hybrid sort of status for Gibraltar within the single market.”

Mr Picardo is in London for a series of meeting with UYK ministers and officials. Yesterday he met Europe Minister David Lidington [pictured].

FULL STORY IN OUR PRINT AND E-EDITIONS