Fears David Cameron is about to make major EU sellout over Gibraltar Brexit deal

David Cameron speaks at national cyber security centre (Image: Getty)

MPs have warned Lord Cameron that his planned Gibraltar Brexit deal could “erode UK sovereignty to the point of meaninglessness”.

The Commons European Scrutiny Committee (ESC) accused the Foreign Secretary of “allowing the pendulum to swing too far in the direction of the EU” in his negotiations over the post-Brexit future of the territory.

In a letter sent to David Rutley, the UK minister for Gibraltar, the MPs called for negotiations to be halted until the Commons agreed a deal that would help retain the British Overseas Territory’s sovereignty.

The letter, signed by ESC chairman Sir Bill Cash, said the MPs had “serious concerns regarding the conduct and progress of the UK Government’s negotiations with the European Union in respect of a trade and border deal for Gibraltar”.

It added: “A deal must not be pursued irrespective of the cost.

“Rather than being assured that you are pursuing a deal that strikes this balance and, most importantly, respects UK sovereignty, we are concerned that you are allowing the pendulum to swing too far in the direction of the EU.

“I will be frank. Your evidence on the border, alignment with the Schengen acquis, and the airport speaks to a serious diminution of UK sovereignty…

“We ask that you consider these points carefully and do not continue along a track that is deleterious to the UK’s vital national interests, the people and businesses of Gibraltar, and the overseas territories more generally.”

Among major concerns for the Committee is how UK nationals and Gibraltarians will be handled if Schengen controls were introduced at Gibraltar’s airport rather than the border.

This is a move the Committee says would render “Gibraltar’s frontier British in all but name”.

With the EU due to introduce a new Entry/Exit regime in October, people returning to Gibraltar or Brits travelling there for work, could be forced to undergo biometric registration.

Ministers have also failed to answer important questions on the impact of the introduction of Schengen checks on ordinary citizens entering their own territory, the Committee said.

It remains “unclear whether any time spent in Gibraltar by UK nationals would count towards the 90 days in 180 days permitted for non-EU nationals in the Schengen Area”, the MPs warned.

Other concerns raised were military and security concerns over the border operating model at the airport and potential oversight by the European Court of Justice for border and trade matters.

The MPs have called on the Government to clearly set out its negotiating red lines during a proposed pause.