10 questions for David Lammy reveal how little we’re told about their sovereignty surrenders
Former Brexit Minister David Jones shows why Labour abolished the EU Scrutiny Committee
Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2025
David Jones asks for answers Mr Lammy either doesn’t know or (more likely) won’t say
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We first knew our sovereignty was going to be sacrificed on learning of one of the first actions of Sir Keir Starmer’s government. He abolished the excellent European Scrutiny Committee, led by the legendary Sir Bill Cash. In that act, Sir Keir made sure his plan for an eventual return to EU membership via stealth would be safe from the forensic questioning of Sir Bill and his Committee.
In this report, one of the most effective members of the Committee has given Brexit Facts4EU a list of 10 questions he or one of his colleagues would have asked.
The latest surrender of British sovereignty occurred last Wednesday on Gibraltar and then in Brussels, when the Rt Hon David Lammy MP, the Foreign Secretary, flew to Gibraltar for secret talks. Clearly an agreement had been lined up in advance, because it wasn’t long before he was back on his plane with Gibraltar’s Chief Minister and the Spanish Foreign Minister, with a flight plan marked ‘Brussels’.
Once there, it was straight into a meeting with the EU’s chief negotiator with the UK, Maros Sefcovic, and a deal was done very soon thereafter, as we reported here. Despite all denials, it is clear that once again this government has ceded British sovereignty to the EU.
Within 48 hours this had led to the formation of a multi-group campaign who had decided “Enough’s enough.” Friday morning saw the launch of the ‘Stand for Our Sovereignty’ campaign, which has received an overwhelmingly supportive response from the public.
Former Brexit Minister – and a Supporter of the ‘Stand for Our Sovereignty’ campaign - the Rt Hon David Jones, reviewed the limited information on offer from the UK government and from the EU Commission and was not impressed. Below are the 10 questions he would ask the Foreign Secretary.
10 questions for the Foreign Secretary about Gibraltar
From the Rt Hon David Jones, former Brexit Minister
1. Sovereignty Over Border Control:
How does the presence of Spanish border police enforcing Schengen rules at Gibraltar’s port and airport affect the UK’s effective control over Gibraltar’s entry points? Does this arrangement compromise Gibraltar’s autonomy in managing its borders, given that UK citizens could be denied entry based on EU regulations?
2. Military Autonomy and RAF Base:
While the agreement protects the operational autonomy of UK military facilities, including the RAF base at Gibraltar’s airport, what safeguards are in place to prevent EU or Spanish influence over military operations? Could shared infrastructure use at the airport create vulnerabilities in British military sovereignty?
3. Customs Union Implications:
By aligning Gibraltar with EU customs and taxation principles, such as those on tobacco, does the agreement limit Gibraltar’s ability to set independent economic policies? How does this alignment impact the UK’s broader sovereignty over Gibraltar’s fiscal autonomy?
4. Dispute Resolution Mechanisms:
What mechanisms are outlined in the agreement for resolving disputes between the UK, EU, Spain, and Gibraltar, particularly regarding sovereignty-related issues? Could the involvement of EU institutions in dispute resolution undermine British authority over Gibraltar?
5. Long-Term Sovereignty Risks:
Does the agreement’s framework, including dual border checks and customs alignment, set a precedent for increased EU influence over Gibraltar in future negotiations? Could this incrementally erode British sovereignty, especially in light of Spain’s historical sovereignty claims?
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6. Gibraltar’s Legislative Independence:
To what extent does the agreement preserve Gibraltar’s ability to pass laws independently of EU regulations? Are there specific areas (e.g., labour, environment, or anti-money laundering) where Gibraltar must align with EU standards, potentially limiting its legislative sovereignty?
7. Public and Parliamentary Oversight:
How will the UK Parliament and Gibraltar’s government ensure transparency and accountability in implementing the agreement? Are there provisions for regular reviews to assess whether British sovereignty is being upheld, particularly as the treaty is finalised and ratified?
8. Impact on UK-Spain Relations:
While the agreement allegedly strengthens UK-Spain bilateral ties, could Spain leverage its role in border enforcement to exert pressure on Gibraltar’s status in the future? How does the UK plan to counter any such attempts to challenge British sovereignty?
9. Sovereignty Perception and Public Trust:
How might the agreement’s provisions, such as Spanish officials operating on Gibraltar’s territory, affect public perception of British sovereignty in both the UK and Gibraltar? What measures are planned to address concerns about perceived concessions to the EU or Spain?
10. Exit Clauses and Reversibility:
What are the conditions under which the UK or Gibraltar could withdraw from the agreement if sovereignty concerns arise? Are there clear exit clauses that protect British interests, or could termination lead to a return of border tensions, impacting Gibraltar’s status?
Observations
Facts4EU and the ‘Stand for Our Sovereignty’ campaign would like to thank the Rt Hon David Jones for providing us with his list of questions to David Lammy.
It would indeed be interesting to hear Mr Lammy’s answers, but naturally there is little chance of that.
The instant abolition of the European Scrutiny Committee by Sir Keir Starmer’s government was our first alert that we had to be on our guard for the slightest indication of a drift back towards EU membership. We knew this would happen by stealth, and so it has transpired.
Gibraltar represents the latest in the series of surrenders of UK sovereignty by this government, following the giveaway of UK territorial waters to the EU and the giveaway of the vital military base on the Chagos peninsula to China’s ally, Mauritius.
The ‘Stand for Our Sovereignty’ campaign launched yesterday and we were overwhelmed by the messages of support from the public. This is why Facts4EU has decided to publish this weekend. We will be publishing tomorrow as well, so please come back.
Finally, we are grateful for David Jones’ full and emphatic support for the campaign and for his wisdom and guidance on the complex issues involved.
Please, please help us to carry on our vital work in defence of independence, sovereignty, democracy and freedom by donating today. Thank you.
[ Sources: The Rt Hon David Jones ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.
Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Sat 14 June 2025
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