Gibraltar elections

[Devonian]

Jul 5, 2013 7:26:41 GMT @trident said:

Jul 5, 2013 6:03:46 GMT Devonian said:

Final result
Bryan Zammit did very badly. People were possibly put off by his idea of building a nuclear power plant in Gibraltar

In which case I'm surprised he got as many as 315 votes!

What was the turnout?

46.34% turnout. Apparently this was in line with previous by elections

[Devonian]

This is the GBC election night results programme

www.gbc.gi/television/tv-player.php?programme=748&episode=6005

I haven't had the chance to watch the whole thing but what I've watched so for is quite interesting. The coverage includes a look back at Gibraltar by election history. The only thing which is a bit of a shame is that it seems the signal cut out between 3h16min and 3h21min which means that you miss the first few minuets of the candidates post result speeches.

Apart from that one interesting but in some way slightly uncanny thing is seeing people who look and sound very much like English politicians and thinking to yourself 'that's exactly like an English politician but the rosette is the wrong colours!'

Here's a bit more from YGTV on the election as well

[Devonian]

As expected Albert Isola, the winner of Thursday's by-election, has been appointed to the Gibraltar Cabinet and is the new minister for Financial Services and Gaming

vox.gi/local/7581-isola-becomes-minister-for-financial-services-and-gaming.html

[Devonian]

As expected the executive of PDP has decided to wind up the Party after its poor showing in the by election

www.gibnews.net/cgi-bin/gn_view.pl/?PDPG130730_1.xml

Date : 30/07/13

PDP reaction to by-election and decision on Future

The executive of the PDP met on the 22nd July 2013 to discuss the outcome of the recent by-election held on the 4th July 2013.

It is clear that the turnout of the by-election, at 46% of the electorate, was low both by comparison to the previous by-election held in 1999 where it was 48% and the expectations given by both parties represented in Parliament which contested the election. [...]

It should concern both the GSLP/Liberals that in essence only 23% of the electorate voted for the Government and equally the GSD, with just over 18% of the electorate having voted for them as an alternative. The PDP believes it is not a proud day for any political party, including the PDP, that there was such a low turnout irrespective of the nature of the election and the time of year.[...]

However, notwithstanding the concerns about turnout and the nature of politics in Gibraltar today, the PDP makes no excuses whatsoever for its poor showing in what was a very accurate poll. In fact, arguably given the PDP’s message since its inception for constructive and moderate politics, the negative engagement by Government and Opposition during this election should have increased the possible vote for the PDP. It did not and no spin can ignore this reality.

The PDP and its leader received very positive reaction during the by-election campaign and since about the nature of its campaign and its efforts to introduce a more united, a more mature and a more moderate politics into Gibraltar. Most of the comments encouraged the PDP to continue its existence and is very grateful for those kind comments. However, most positive reaction was coupled with an explanation as to how, irrespective of the campaign, the voter has always voted one way or another and felt unable to change their votes.

The PDP felt it had a good campaign and that its candidate and leader, Nick Cruz, was constructive, clear and certainly did his best for the party.

In the previous two elections, specifically in 2011 under its previous leader Keith Azopardi, the party also felt it had campaigned well and that the party’s candidates did their best in all aspects.

In the circumstances, the only sensible conclusion is not to make excuses but simply to recognise that despite its efforts and the considerable sacrifice, the party, under the leadership of former Leader Keith Azopardi and current Leader Nick Cruz, has been unable to alter voting patterns significantly over 3 different electoral tests over 7 years.[...] Mr Cruz on the night of the election recognised that 7% of the popular vote was progress on previous results, but not a sensible platform to lead to Parliament and ultimately Government. [...]

However, the reality is that many people have sacrificed enormous amounts of time and other resources over 7 years without significant electoral progress and after 3 elections, it is clear that our current political system makes no room for a 3rd party, however well delivered or received is their message. The PDP have never sought to be a pressure group and in the circumstances, the executive have by overwhelming majority recommended to its membership that the party be wound up with effect from the 31st August 2013.[...]

The executive would like to take the opportunity to express its heartfelt gratitude to the following:

The PDP’s current and past members;
The PDP’s activists;
The PDP’s supporters and voters during the last 3 elections;
Those past and present who have contributed their time and financial assistance to the PDP political project;
The Media who have allowed the PDP to convey its message;
The current and past Governments and Opposition and the GSLP/Liberals and
GSD Party’s for their engagement in the political process;
The unions and commercial bodies and the numerous associations and bodies that have given their time to the party over 7 years to assist the formulation of the PDP’s policies;

The Governor’s past and present and the members of the FCO that haveinteracted with the PDP;

The electorate generally for having at the very least listened, irrespective of whether they felt they could give their support;

Lastly and importantly the families of those involved in the PDP who have supported those involved unreservedly.

Finally, the PDP encourage all its executive and members to maintain their interest in local politics and remain involved in the process to whatever degree they can in order to continue to convey its constructive message after the dissolution of the Party.

This will be the last PDP press release. Thank you.

[Devonian]

Nick Cruz talk about the decision to wind up the PDP

[Devonian]

The reaction of the Gibraltar (and South West England) MEPs to the situation

In a series of statements and letters, Gibraltar’s MEP’s have hit out at Spain and their present treatment of Gibraltar and its residents.

Gibraltar’s Liberal Democrat MEP, Sir Graham Watson, has written to the President of the European Commission, Commissioner Jose Manuel Barroso, to seek his “active involvement in persuading Spain to desist from its actions.”

In his letter Sir Graham said that the Government of Spain has chosen to escalate tensions concerning the sovereignty of Gibraltar and that this has had an impact on the rights of Spanish, Gibraltarian and other EU citizens under EU law.

Sir Graham also stated that he appreciated the commissioner’s position and that the Commission prefers not to become involved in territorial disputes between Member States. “But it has a duty to see the rights of all Union citizens upheld,” he added.

In the letter, he tells the Commissioner that on a number of occasions in the past year there have been lengthy delays at the Spanish-Gibraltar border; noting the most recent delays, which saw our Government needing to distribute 11,000 bottles of water to those affected.

Sir Graham does not dispute Spain’s right to make proportionate checks on persons and goods crossing the frontier, but notes that stop and search checks taking place on practically every vehicle lead to lengthy delays. He also mentions that commercial traffic were targeted, which is a contravention of the rules of the single market.

Sir Graham recalls the recent incident where a Guardia Civil officer discharged a firearm at a citizen using a jet ski in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.

In his letter he states that the suggestion from Snr Margallo, to introduce a fee of €50 for citizens crossing the Spanish-Gibraltar border, suggests to him “that the time has come for you to act,” saying that this is completely at odds with EU Treaties, especially the provisions of Article 18 and 21 TFEU.

“The rights of my constituents under EU law cannot be ignored or forgotten by the EU’s institutions. I am therefore appealing to you to ensure that the rights of the citizens of Gibraltar are fully upheld and that the Commission publicly reminds the Spanish Government of its Treaty obligations to all citizens of Europe,” said Sir Graham’s letter.

“Moreover I urge you to send observers from the European Commission to monitor the situation at the border, as per the request made by representatives of the Government of Gibraltar at a recent meeting with Commissioner Semeta,” he added.

Sir Graham released a copy of

his letter to the press, Commissioner Semeta, the European Commissioner for Taxation and the Customs Union, David Lidington MP, Minister of State for Europe, Giles Paxman, British Ambassador to Spain, Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, its Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Joseph Garcia, and the Governor of Gibraltar, Sir Adrian Johns.

CONSERVATIVES

Ashley Fox, Conservative MEP, joined fellow Conservative MEP’s Giles Chichester and Julie Girling in accusing Spain of “desperation and recklessness” over its increasingly outlandish threats against the British territory and its citizens.

In a joint statement, they said: “It is clear this posturing and chest-beating is an act of desperation and recklessness.”

The trio said that they believe the Spanish Government faces so many problems domestically that it is desperate to create a diversion. “A bout of sabre-rattling at Gibraltar provides the perfect distraction.”

“The Spanish papers love it and it keeps Premier Rajoy’s calamitous difficulties off the front pages,” they added. Calling themselves “responsible parliamentarians”, they said they wish to remind Spain that this, their “megaphone diplomacy”, should have ceased with General Franco, stating that it has no place in a modern Europe and in addition it does a disservice to the people of modern Spain.

They also note that this treatment flies in the face of all the rules on the free movement of people and goods.

They concluded their statement by saying: “If they think such a boorish rant will advance their case one iota, they are wrong. We and the people of Gibraltar will be resolute against such bullying.”

UKIP

William Dartmouth, UKIP Euro MP for Gibraltar said: “To see this sort of behavior from a so called ally is sad in the extreme, it is more suited to Argentina than a mature European democracy.”

Stating that it is time for the UK to pull its finger out and stop mouthing diplomatic niceties to Madrid, he said: “It is becoming obvious that the Spanish Prime Minister, caught up in a corruption scandal and with a shrinking economy with over 50% of their youth out of work, needs a distraction, and their futile claims over Gibraltar seem to fit his bill.

According to Mr Dartmouth, Gibraltar is not dealing with “an entirely rational Government in Madrid.” He states that repeated maritime incursions into sovereign Gibraltarian waters, blocking the border, threatening the airspace and singling out Gibraltarian citizens for enhanced audits lead him to this conclusion. “What Mr Rajoy and his Government must remember is that the people of Gibraltar withstood the behavior of Franco, as they have every attempt to intimidate them over the past three hundred years. They are not going to kowtow now,” said Mr Dartmouth. “For once the British Government must show some backbone to support the people of Gibraltar. By sending a frigate to Gibraltar, the message will ring out loud and clear, Gibraltar is British,” he added.

www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=30357

[Devonian]

Aug 7, 2013 7:19:13 GMT @boogieeck said:

send a gunboat Lol. Love UKIP.

Well people have been saying that but in fact the UKIP suggestion is similar to what the goverment of Gibraltar themselves have been saying

Gibraltar calls for increased Royal Navy presence
22 July 2013

Gibraltar has called for a greater UK military presence to assert British sovereignty and deter Spanish incursions.

Fabian Picardo, Gibraltar's chief minister, recalled that Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in the 1980s when there was an "absence of the right sort of Royal Navy vessels" in the South Atlantic.

"I believe we need a much greater Royal Naval presence in our waters," he told the Sunday Express newspaper.

There was now "huge concern" that Spain wanted to "assert that these are Spanish waters", he said.

"I don't believe Spain will invade, but I am seeing Spain becoming much more assertive in these waters as a result of the absence of the right size of naval presence.

"Somebody needs to wake up and realise that we should assert British sovereignty. We need to drive the message home that these are very clearly British Gibraltar territorial waters."

His comments came just weeks after Foreign Office minister David Lidington made a formal protest over an alleged illegal incursion into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, in which it was claimed that a Spanish Guardia Civil vessel fired a weapon.

www.defencemanagement.com/news_story.asp?id=23492

[Devonian]

Aug 7, 2013 7:19:13 GMT @boogieeck said:

send a gunboat Lol. Love UKIP.

The government clearly doesn't agree with UKIP's idea of sending a Frigate. They're going to send two

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/gibraltar/10231438/British-navy-warships-to-visit-Gibraltar-amid-diplomatic-row.html

[Devonian]

Paul Nuttall is apparently in Gibraltar at the moment. Here's him meeting the by election winner

/photo/1

and here's him with a couple of opposition MPs

/photo/1

[Devonian]

Paul Nuttall has announced that UKIP intend to stand in the 2015 Gibraltar general election

The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) has confirmed that they will be putting forward a full slate of candidates for the 2015 general election in Gibraltar. This follows this week’s visit from UKIP MEP and deputy leader Paul Nuttall and the party’s campaign to raise awareness of the border delays within the European Parliament and the international press.

YGTV spoke to a spokesperson for Mr Nuttall who explained that he believes that UKIP’s international influence will be good for Gibraltar especially at a time when relations with Spain are so tense. He said that by ensuring that UKIP become involved in local politics, the party can help boost Gibraltar’s image and worldwide coverage.

Asked whether the decision was determined by recent events, he explained that the party had been considering this for around 18 months but the current situation had “pushed” them to act quicker.

UKIP believes that their party, its policies and their leader Nigel Farage have “vast support” locally and they are hoping to recruit local candidates to represent them in two years’ time.

www.yourgibraltartv.com/ygtv-news/written-news/politics/4785-aug-09-ukip-to-contest-gibraltar-2015-general-election

I think they'll have their work cut out. At the last European election they got 1.4% of the Gibraltar vote, by far their worst result of any district.

[Deleted]

Am I right in thinking that formally speaking Gibraltar is not part of the United Kingdom? thus maybe UKIP are overstepping their remit?

[Davıd Boothroyd]

Gibraltar is a Crown Dependency and not part of the United Kingdom.

[Devonian]

Aug 9, 2013 23:14:56 GMT joe said:

Am I right in thinking that formally speaking Gibraltar is not part of the United Kingdom? thus maybe UKIP are overstepping their remit?

Gibraltar is indeed not part of the UK, it is a British Overseas Territory like the Falklands or the Cayman Islands. Its not usual for UK parties to run in elections in the Overseas Territories at all, in fact I don't know of another example of a UK party running in the Overseas Territory or Crown dependency. However as far as I know there is nothing to prevent a party setting up in another territory.

Gibraltar unlike other Oversees Territories and Crown Dependencies is part of the European Union and does vote in the European elections. I can't see UKIP running in any of the other territories.

[Devonian]

Aug 9, 2013 23:36:21 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

Gibraltar is a Crown Dependency and not part of the United Kingdom.

Sorry to be pedantic here but Gibraltar is an 'British Overseas Territory' not a 'Crown Dependency'

The Crown Dependencies are Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man

The British Oversees Territories are

Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Anguilla
Bermuda
British Antarctic Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Montserrat
Pitcairn Islands
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands

[Devonian]

Interview with Paul Nuttall in Gibraltar

www.gbc.gi/television/tv-player.php?programme=475&episode=5965

Interview is at 11:40

[Devonian]

Aug 9, 2013 23:36:21 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

Gibraltar is a Crown Dependency and not part of the United Kingdom.

Also I can't see there being much call for UKIP to run in the Crown Dependencies. They are not in the EU, they have strictly controlled immigration, no wind farms, low taxes and no HS2. They're already run pretty much according to UKIP policies!

[erlend]

Except that Gib is in the EU. It is the exception.

[Devonian]

Aug 10, 2013 10:03:14 GMT erlend said:

Except that Gib is in the EU. It is the exception.

Sorry to be pedantic again. Gib is not a Crown Dependency, Jersey, Guernsey and IOM are

[Devonian]

Paul Nuttall has been denounced by the Spanish Government

UKIP MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, William (The Earl of) Dartmouth, said that currently there is “neither friendship or free trade” occurring between Gibraltar and Spain.

Mr Dartmouth paid a short notice visit to Gibraltar this week to see for himself what the situation Gibraltarians and Gibraltar’s residents are enduring at the frontier.

Cutting his own personal holiday short to show his support, Mr Dartmouth spent approximately 24 hours on the Rock and made as much use of his time as possible, meeting people such as the Defenders of Gibraltar.

Mr Dartmouth said that he believed that the Spanish Government are harassing their own people and they seem to be nonchalant about this. He said the PP is mired in a corruption scandal and all of a sudden the situation at the frontier changes, “it’s a form of harassment,” said Mr Dartmouth.

Concerning the European Union he said that this whole issue “demonstrates the uselessness of the European Union.”

Mr Dartmouth said he would like to see Gibraltar having its own MP in the House of Commons and that he thinks a union with the UK is the solution. He also said that some high profile people - Peter Hain principally - are being very unhelpful and all they are doing is simply encouraging the Spanish.

The MEP said he believes that Gibraltar should have its own voting ability, like France gives islands that are deemed French the right to vote in elections in France.

DEFENDERS OF GIBRALTAR

The Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia and the Defenders of Gibraltar yestreday had what the Defenders described as a very constructive meeting at the John Macintosh Hall with senior members of UKIP, including Deputy Leader and MEP Paul Nuttall.

The discussions, according to a statement from the Defenders of Gibraltar, centred around how UKIP could help in highlighting Gibraltar’s plight at an EU parliamentary level, with UKIP expressing their support of our cause as well as promising to do their best to support Gibraltar and its people.

FRONTIER FRACAS

On Thursday evening, Mr Nuttall and his team paid a visit to the frontier when they were asked by officials on the Spanish side, “What were they doing here.” When the UKIP’s press officer Gawain Towler informed them as to whom Mr Nuttall is, the police officers on the Spanish side started to take photographs of the group Mr Nuttall was with, on the Gibraltarian side.

Mirroring their actions Mr Towler started to take photographs of them in return. This resulted, according to Mr Towler, in a quick phone call being made and within minutes, a queue had started to form. Mr Towler said that if he had not seen it with his own eyes he would not have believed it.

Mr Towler’s actions have led to the Spanish foreign ministry taking measures to seek to stop such activity. The Spanish Government have contacted the UK authorities due to their concerns, where officers previously received threats when their photographs were published.

According to the Interior Ministry in Spain, the Spanish Government has denounced Mr Nuttall and the RGP officer who accompanied him for filming the Guardia Civil at the frontier.

A spokesman has said that a recent website that was published by ‘The friends of Gibraltar (Madrid) was an “intolerable attack on the security services of the state”, especially the publication of the photographs where the public are asked to name the officers and supply addresses of their homes.

Also irate were the people subjected to the queues “created” apparently in retaliation for the photographing of officers. Many drivers in Spanish registered cars beeped their horns and seemed very discontent over the queues that formed.

In the period July 29 to August 8, 119,306 pedestrians and 89,365 vehicles crossed the frontier into Spain.

www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=30400

[Devonian]

Aug 10, 2013 10:03:14 GMT erlend said:

Except that Gib is in the EU. It is the exception.

Aside from that pedantic point you are correct. None of the other oversees territories (apart from Akrotiri and Dhekelia which doesn't have elections) is part of the EU. I can't see UKIP trying to set up in any of them.