Lib Dem Policy on Gibraltar (update) (at last)

A "little while" ago I had some concerns about the Lib Dem policy regarding Gibraltar. I have recently considered attempting to submit a motion to conference about it but wanted to make sure it was worthwhile.

I recently chased them up and got a response!

Conference notes:

a) The statement to the House of Commons made by the Foreign Secretary on 12th July 2002 in which he reported on the conduct of talks under the 1984 Brussels Process on the future of Gibraltar.

b) The large-scale demonstrations and other public expressions of opinion by the citizens of Gibraltar on joint sovereignty and the status of any agreement between Spain and the UK.

c) That the Liberal Democrats are firmly committed to the
principles of self-determination for all countries and territories.

d) That both the United Kingdom and Spain are required to honour
the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

e) That the terms of the 1969 constitution of Gibraltar state that
the UK Government will "never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes".

Conference believes that:

1. Talks under the Brussels Process should not be open-ended and
that the UK Government should now fix a date by which talks under this process should be concluded.

2. The UK Government should reject any concluded agreement that does not have the support of the people of Gibraltar and does not include the abandonment of any future Spanish claim to sovereignty over Gibraltar and the maintenance of the control of military facilities for as long as the UK wishes.

3. The people of Gibraltar must have the final say, in a referendum held in exercise of the right to self-determination, on their future status and on any proposed agreement.

Conference therefore calls on the Governments of the UK and Spain and the Government of Gibraltar to resolve all questions surrounding the status of Gibraltar in accordance with liberal and democratic principles and always putting the interests and wishes of the people of Gibraltar first.

Background briefing: this motion creates new policy.

Conference rejected an amendment to delete 'people of Gibraltar' and insert 'Gibraltarian Government' in 'Conference believes that' 2.

Now this was passed back in 2002. For that time this is a pretty good result. I think it needs updating though (e.g. to cover advances through tripartite process etc.) and intend to submit a more relevant motion for the Autumn conference. Maybe now we are part of the Government we will have some influence over the UK dealings on the subject.

If you have any ideas for the motion or want to help, please drop me an email - your help will be gratefully accepted. I'm drafting it on Google Wave and I'll send you my details if you would like to get involved.

I am hoping to submit this through my local party, but in case of any difficulty there I'm also on the lookout for conference reps who might be prepared to support it. Again, please give me a shout if you are prepared to consider helping.

I will be posting on Lib Dem Act too in an attempt to boost support.