Picardo is ‘one of the good guys’ in tax transparency drive

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond pointed to Gibraltar yesterday as an example to other British Overseas Territories working to improve tax transparency.

He was speaking during a visit here ahead of today’s anti-corruption summit in London, at which Chief Minister Fabian Picardo is scheduled to intervene.

“I'll be talking to Chief Minister Picardo about how he can act as a leader among British Overseas Territories in setting the way forward,” Mr Hammond said before meeting with the Chief Minister.

“We believe good progress has been made, but that doesn't mean to say there aren't always further things that can be done."

“Chief Minister Picardo is being invited to London as an exemplar of how to move forward on these issues.”

“He’s not in the dock, he’s one of the good guys who’s coming to share his experience and explain how progress can be made on these issues.”

Mr Hammond was speaking to reporters during a visit to Gun Wharf, where he met crews from the Royal Navy and law enforcement agencies who patrol British Gibraltar territorial waters.

He was asked about Spain’s continued incursions into British waters and its attempts to block Gibraltar’s inclusion in EU aviation packages.

The Foreign Secretary said he remained concerned about both issues but that the “political paralysis” in Spain meant progress had not been possible.

“We will clearly be seeking to make some progress on both issues once the political situation in Spain is resolved,” he said.

“I'm not going to make any comments about the Spanish political process but there will be a new government after the elections on the 26th of June - at least we hope there will be a new government - and whatever the shape and colour of that government, we will engage with them and try to get some progress on these issues, because we believe it's in the interests of all three parties - Britain, Spain and Gibraltar - to move forward on these issues.”