Boris meets Picardo and reaffirms sovereignty commitment

The UK will take "whatever action is necessary" to safeguard Gibraltar's British sovereignty and prosperity, Boris Johnson has said after his first meeting with Chief Minister Fabian Picardo in London today.

The Foreign Secretary met with Mr Picardo to tell him Britain will would never let Gibraltar pass into Spanish control without the consent of the people.

"I was delighted to meet Chief Minister Picardo. I reassured him of both our steadfast commitment to Gibraltar, and our intention to fully involve Gibraltar in discussions on our future relationship with the EU," Mr Johnson said.

"The people of Gibraltar have repeatedly and overwhelmingly expressed their wish to remain under British sovereignty and we will respect their wishes."

"We will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their wishes."

"Furthermore, the UK will not enter into any process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content."

"We will continue to take whatever action is necessary to safeguard Gibraltar, its people and its economy including maintaining a well-functioning Gibraltar-Spain Border."

Mr Johnson later tweeted about the meeting.

Reaffirmed UK commitment to #Gibraltar in meeting w/ Chief Minister @FabianPicardo this eve: https://t.co/nbJ1xbpOlX pic.twitter.com/7Oh38t5Zmm

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) July 16, 2016