'Let Gibraltar decide own future' - MPs

Gibraltarians are promised a referendum

Three out of four MPs think the future of Gibraltar should be decided by its own citizens, according to a survey.

The poll was commissioned by the Gibraltar government.

It comes as Prime Minister Tony Blair prepares to meet his Spanish counterpart Jose-Maria Aznar on Monday.

A total of 150 MPs, proportionately chosen from the three main political parties, were polled by TNS Harris.

Of those, 75% said it should be the people of Gibraltar themselves who decide their future.

Referendum

Many of the people living on Gibraltar have accused the British government of 'treachery'.

One per cent of MPs polled said the Rock should be governed by the UK and Spanish governments in conjunction with the local people.

That is the mechanism under discussion at the moment between the two governments, as they negotiate a deal on the colony's future.

Josep Pique says issue of referendum undecided

Britain's proposals for sharing sovereignty with Spain are strongly opposed by Gibraltar's 30,000 citizens.

They have regularly taken to the streets to demonstrate their anger.

Attempts to quell anger among the Rock's inhabitants have included the promise of a referendum on any eventual deal, which is opposed by Spain.

Negotiations between the two countries appeared to have stalled last week.

Downing Street said it expected Gibraltar to be on the agenda at Monday's meeting between the two leaders.

Demonstrations

This was confirmed by Spanish foreign minister Josep Pique in an interview published in the Spanish newspaper ABC's website on Saturday.

He said: "It (the meeting) was not set to discuss the issue of Gibraltar, although the logical thing is for the two prime ministers to talk about the matter."

He described the difficulties surrounding negotiations as being "the definitive nature the UK wishes any agreement, that is reached, to have".

And "the need to maintain Spain's historical aspiration to a total reintegration of sole sovereignty over the Rock".

On the question of a referendum he said this was still under dispute.

He said: "We still have to resolve how the British position of consulting the Gibraltarians fits in with Spain's non-acceptance of anything that might imply an exercising of the right of self-determination."

Official talks are expected to resume in June or July.