UK close to deal for Eurostar-style dual border controls at Gibraltar airport
Guardian2 days
UK, EU Reach Post-Brexit Gibraltar Border Deal
Above: The border between Spain and the Rock of Gibraltar on June 12, 2025. Image copyright: Francisco J. Olmo/Europa Press/Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
The U.K.-Gibraltar treaty is a triumph of European diplomacy, safeguarding British sovereignty while unlocking a new era of opportunity. It avoids a hard border, protects livelihoods, and ensures smooth movement for thousands. After years of gridlock, this pragmatic, forward-looking deal delivers stability, cooperation, and a stronger future for Gibraltar and its people.
Right narrative
The Gibraltar deal marks a dangerous erosion of British sovereignty. Despite government spin, allowing Spanish officials to police a British port is a fundamental shift agreed without public consent, legal clarity, or parliamentary scrutiny. Gibraltar is not a bargaining chip for wider European integration. If border control defines sovereignty, then Britain just gave part of it away.
Narrative C
Gibraltar is not British, it's a colonial relic Spain has long sought to recover. Ceded in 1713 under limited terms, its isthmus and waters were never lawfully transferred. The U.N. backs Spain’s claim under decolonization principles. Brexit exposed the Rock’s EU dependency, and Spain’s sovereignty must now be restored. It’s time to end this outdated occupation and reclaim Spanish territory.