Keir Starmer’s Gibraltar Deal Sparks Fresh Brexit Border Debate
There’s been a lot of noise this week around Gibraltar, Brexit, and a new border deal that’s now being closely linked to Keir Starmer’s government. And the reason it’s getting so much attention is simple: this agreement could quietly reshape how Britons enter Gibraltar, while also reopening some of the most sensitive arguments from the Brexit era.
Here’s what’s happening in plain terms. After years of post-Brexit uncertainty, negotiators from the UK, Spain, the European Union, and Gibraltar have now completed the legal text of a long-awaited deal covering Gibraltar’s border arrangements. This issue has been unresolved since the UK voted to leave the EU back in 2016, with Gibraltar’s land border with Spain being one of the most politically delicate flashpoints.
Under the proposed agreement, a so-called “fluid border” would be created between Spain and Gibraltar. The idea is that physical barriers and long queues would be removed, making daily life easier for the roughly 15,000 people who cross the border every single day. But here’s the controversial part: Britons entering Gibraltar would need to show their passports not just once, but twice. First to Gibraltarian officials, and then to Spanish border guards acting on behalf of the EU’s Schengen area.
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This detail has sparked fierce criticism. Opponents argue that border control is effectively being handed to the EU, with Spain playing a direct role in deciding who can enter a British overseas territory. Former Conservative figures have been quick to accuse Keir Starmer of “undoing Brexit by stealth,” claiming Gibraltar is being used as a bargaining chip to bring the UK closer to Europe again.
Supporters of the deal tell a very different story. It’s been stressed that Gibraltar’s sovereignty is not being touched, with a specific clause said to make that point explicit. Immigration, policing, and law and order within Gibraltar would remain the responsibility of its own authorities. Spanish officials, meanwhile, would only be responsible for protecting the integrity of the Schengen zone at the external border.
Beyond politics, there are real-world consequences already unfolding. The agreement could allow Gibraltar residents to travel freely across the Schengen area without the usual 90-day limit imposed on most Britons after Brexit. That perk alone has reportedly driven a surge in interest from UK residents looking to relocate, attracted by low taxes, warm weather, and unrestricted European travel.
Tourism and business leaders in Gibraltar are also watching closely. Flights from EU countries, currently unavailable, could finally become possible, opening the door to more visitors and investment. However, the final treaty still needs to be approved by the UK, EU, and Gibraltar parliaments, meaning the political battle is far from over.
For now, this deal is being framed by the government as the last major unresolved Brexit issue finally being put to rest. But judging by the backlash, Gibraltar has once again become a symbol of just how unfinished Brexit still feels to many on both sides of the argument.
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