Cross Frontier Group meets Merkel’s Brexit advisor

A senior German MEP, David MacAllister, met with the Cross Frontier Group yesterday in order to learn how Brexit could impact Gibraltar.

Along with Sir Graham Watson, Gibraltar’s advisor in Brussels, the two men held a meeting with the group at the headquarters of Unite the Union.

Sir Graham indicated that Mr MacAllister was keen to learn how life functions across the border and how trade unions and business associations on both sides of the border work together particularly against a backdrop of the looming threat of Brexit.

“As a democrat I respect the decision taken by a narrow majority of the British people, however, I felt heartbroken on June 23,” Mr MacAllister told the group.

“I think that was a terrible mistake,” he said.

Mr MacAllister, who possesses dual nationality and is the son of a Scottish soldier, is an advisor to Germany’s Angela Merkel on UK politics and Brexit related issues.

Currently, he chairs a working group of the EPP on the issue of the UK referendum.

The Chronicle understands Mr MacAllister also held meetings with senior government officials including the Chief Minister and deputy Chief Minister.

But yesterday he declined to be interviewed at any length on his discussions.

“I’m here to listen to you people and to try and get an impression of what the outcome of the referendum actually means for you here in Gibraltar,” Mr MacAllister told members of the Cross Frontier Group during a press call organised by Unite.

“Once in a while politicians actually listen,” Mr MacAllister joked, adding that he was “curious” to get to know what it is the Cross Frontier Group is all about.

Of Gibraltar’s 96% vote in favour of remaining in the European Union, Mr MacAllister said he did not think anywhere else in the European Union would achieve such an ‘approval rate’.