MoD defends job cuts under strong criticism from Govt and Opposition

The Ministry of Defence in Gibraltar does not envisage any compulsory redundancies as it seeks to reduce its locally employed civilian workforce by 85 jobs, the Commander British Forces insisted yesterday as he stressed Gibraltar’s “pivotal strategic role”.

Commodore Walliker defended the MoD’s “extremely attractive” voluntary redundancy package even as concerned union officials briefed Chief Minister Fabian Picardo on the details of the offer.

After meeting Unite officials yesterday, Mr Picardo reiterated the Gibraltar Government’s position that it will not accept any compulsory redundancies.

He added that Gibraltar’s strategic and tactical value to the UK far exceeded the low cost of running the base.

And in a related development, the GSD slammed the MoD move as “immoral and not acceptable” against the backdrop of the UK’s looming withdrawal from the EU.

Both the Gibraltar Government and the Opposition said the MoD should rethink its plans in the light of the Brexit vote last June 23.

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