Secret documents shed light on 1987 airport agreement

Margaret Thatcher and her Cabinet believed the 1987 airport agreement represented “a valuable step forward”, according to declassified secret documents released to the National Archives in London last week.

The agreement between the British and Spanish government would have led to joint civilian use of the airport and a new terminal on the Spanish side, but was scuppered by the resignation of Sir Joshua Hassan for personal reasons just a week later.

By late 1988, Mrs Thatcher and her Cabinet colleagues were bemoaning the fact that Joe Bossano, the Rock’s new Chief Minister, was refusing to implement the agreement and had adopted an “intransigent line” on relations with Spain.

Cabinet minutes from the period show how Gibraltar was discussed on numerous occasions at the highest level of British Government.

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