Brexit looms over legal ceremony

The implications for Gibraltar of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU dominated the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year yesterday, with the Attorney General signalling the possibility of Gibraltar following the UK’s lead with a Great Repeal Act of its own.

Michael Llamas, QC, reflected on the challenge that Gibraltar’s law draftsmen had faced preparing the European Union Referendum Act 2016 and signalled more of the same ahead, except “in the opposite direction”.

“Possibly starting with a Great Repeal Act which will be as necessary and relevant here in respect of our own European Communities Act as it will be in the United Kingdom,” he said, adding that he had already discussed the issue with Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.

“The UK intends to introduce its own Act in its next parliamentary session, which starts with Her Majesty’s speech next May, and we will no doubt be working with colleagues in London as well as perhaps in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast on what the Bills for such Acts are likely to have to contain.”

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