UK’s Brexit deal will reflect Gibraltar’s ‘specific issues’ - Manley

Britain will include Gibraltar in its Brexit negotiation and reflect ‘specific issues’ relating to the Rock and the UK’s devolved administrations, Britain’s ambassador to Spain said this week.

Simon Manley made the comments in an interview with the online publication El Confidencial, the latest in a string of media appearances in which he has spoken about Brexit.

Mr Manley was asked about the Spanish Government’s bid to have Gibraltar excluded from the UK’s Brexit negotiation with the EU. Spain wants to treat Gibraltar as a bilateral issue with the UK.

“We are talking with the Government of Gibraltar in the same way as we are talking with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales,” Mr Manley replied.

“We are in a process of consultation.”

“But our intention is to negotiate with the European Union as a country, as a United Kingdom.”

“And of course, we have specific issues, for example, between Northern Ireland and Ireland in terms of the daily reality of the relationship, but our intention is to negotiate as a country.”

“Of course there are issues specific to Gibraltar, just are there are for Scotland, Northern Ireland or London.”

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