Once again, a Spanish naval vessel accompanied by a helicopter has sailed into Gibraltar's sovereign waters in a flagrant breach of international law. Such increasing incursions as well as frequent blockages of the frontier between Gibraltar and Spain are deliberately engineered by the Spanish Government to put pressure on Gibraltarians. They are totally unacceptable acts by a fellow NATO and EU member.
Bob Stewart's own connections with Gibraltar goes back to happy times leading various Army diving expeditions there and he has always had a very soft spot for the place since. He frequently raises the rights of those who live on the Rock in the House of Commons. Gibraltar is as British as the White Cliffs of Dover!
Last night I was interviewed by Rebecca Williams for Sky News at home in Beckenham. Bob told her that deliberate breaches of sovereign territory by Spain could be viewed by some as an act of war. He called on the Government to consider replacing the two very small and very old Royal Navy patrol vessels in Gibraltar (originally designed for Lough Neagh!) as well as possibly positioning a Regular infantry company on the Rock under command of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment. Bob has has raised both suggestions before in Westminster.
Spanish diplomats have repeatedly been dressed down for breaches of our sovereignty by Foreign office ministers; to very little effect. Up-gunning our military presence in Gibraltar would at least be a sign that we are getting fed-up!
The two accompanying photographs show Bob's interview on Sky News as well as his last parliamentary visit to Gibraltar in September 2014 - aboard one of the patrol vessels, HMS Scimitar.