Dispute continues on Gibraltar talks

Talks are expected to conclude in a few months

Gibraltar's sovereignty cannot be "shared like a can of beer", the Rock's chief minister warned as the UK again rejected claims a secret deal had been struck with Spain.

Peter Caruana is continuing to refuse to take part in the current Anglo-Spanish talks over Gibraltar's future, which the Rock's residents would be pressured to accept.

The people of Gibraltar do not wish to give up their British sovereignty or barter it for any goodies

Peter Caruana
Gibraltar chief minister

UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw again dismissed reports that any decision to share sovereignty had been agreed.

Mr Straw hopes the discussions will be resolved within the next few months, with the agreement put before the people of Gibraltar in a referendum.

Those comments failed to satisfy Mr Caruana, who said Gibraltarians found shared sovereignty unacceptable.

'Unfair talks'

"The people of Gibraltar do not wish to give up their British sovereignty or barter it for any goodies," the chief minister told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Mr Caruana denied his administration was adopting an "empty chair" policy to the discussions.

He was willing to take part in any "properly structured, sensible process" with an open agenda.

Instead, he argued, British ministers were going to agree concessions with Spain and while that deal would not implemented without the people's consent, it would curtail future options.

Peter Caruana says Gibraltarians face pressure

"What we should have, at worst, is proposals which if the people of Gibraltar reject them disappear and do not remain as a sword of Damocles hanging over our heads."

Under the current process, even if a deal was rejected in a referendum, it would remain London's position on the issue, said Mr Caruana.

Mr Straw said the UK government was only continuing a process of talks begun under Margaret Thatcher in 1984.

Referendum pledge

"The final outcome of any discussion between us and Spain will be put in a secret ballot to the people of Gibraltar," the foreign secretary told Today.

"Meanwhile, the invitation to the government of Gibraltar to play a full part in these talks remains open."

Mr Straw said despite their "bluster", the Conservatives had confirmed their support for the process, but he came under strong attack over the issue from Opposition MPs in the Commons on Monday.

A report in Spain's El Pais newspaper quoted an unnamed diplomatic source as saying an agreement on shared sovereignty would help resolve the long-running row over Gibraltar.

'Sell-out'

The Tories accused Labour of preparing to betray the people of Gibraltar in order to improve Britain's standing in Europe.

Shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram said: "I'm less than reassured and less than convinced that there is not a deal being done behind closed doors to share sovereignty.

"The whole process within which you are engaged is beginning to smell to high heaven and the smell is of stitch up and of sell out.

"The people of Gibraltar have shown great loyalty to the crown and to the UK and we at least owe them openness and loyalty in return."