Picardo expected to assert that Gibraltar is in the Brexit driving seat

He is expected to refer to the work being done in the negotiations for the United Kingdom and Gibraltar to leave the European Union, pointing out that we have already dealt politically with the many issues that arise in respect of our withdrawal from the EU.

Now we must deal with the issues that arise in respect of any transitional period for our withdrawal and the application to Gibraltar of any relevant aspects of the future relationship between the UK and the EU.

WHAT RELATIONSHIP DO WE WANT?

Given the many issues that will arise in this respect, Gibraltar must ask itself, in light of the reality of Brexit, exactly what relationship does it want with the European Union in the future. It is expected he will ask: What will work best for Gibraltar?

The political thinking that emerges in Government circles is that we must work in partnership with the United Kingdom, as we have always done in the past, even though, as the public will say, on occasions we have disagreed with the UK - but we have always fought Gibraltar’s corner and today we have a strong political relationship with Prime Minister May’s government.

As everyone will recall, certainly Mr Picardo has not forgotten, Mrs May herself told us on National Day that the UK will resolutely safeguard our economy.

There is also a cast iron commitment from Secretary of State David Davis that the United Kingdom government will not do a future trade deal with the EU if it did not include Gibraltar.

As there is the guarantee about the double lock on sovereignty - a point on which Mr Picardo is expected to develop on, such as the wide ranging nature of that guarantee, about not only not to transfer Gibraltar’s sovereignty against our wishes, but not to even start any process of negotiation without our consent, which will NEVER be forthcoming.

Mr Picardo’s line is expected to highligh that there is a golden thread running through the various cumulative undertakings that we have secured from the United Kingdom.

In fact, a golden thread that admits of no conclusion other than that Gibraltar cannot legitimately be excluded from any UK transitional period or any relevant aspects of any future trade deal or deals with the European Union.

Such is the optimism engulfing Government policy that it is not ruled out that the New Year message will stress that Gibraltar is

firmly in the Brexit driving seat for Gibraltar.

TECHNICAL TALKS

As PANORAMA disclosed a week ago, the Government is ready to engage in productive technical talks with all relevant parties, to ensure that Gibraltar residents, tourists and cross-frontier workers can have their rights respected.

The Spaniards are forever indulging in premature triumphalisms, but we must not let that blur the reality that Gibraltar will have a crucial veto itself.

Further, it is understood that Mr Picardo is poised to reveal that the final decision about our post-Brexit future will be decided in the Gibraltar Parliament itself, that would be an important development in local political posturing.

Despite the pressures and hard work emanating from Brexit, Government work has not been paralysed for the simple reason that Gibraltar has a team of capable ministers.

Mr Picardo will say that the Gibraltar Brexit Team is led by him alongside the resolute and determined Deputy Chief Minister, Joseph Garcia, it is understood.

Gibraltar has already secured the UK commitment that its “unshakeable objective is to secure for Gibraltar the seamless continuation of existing market access to the UK, and to enhance it where possible.”

2018 will undoubtedly be another year of hard work, that will bring about continued growth and success for Gibraltar, further strengthening our nation.

There are strong words, firm commitments and a spirit of going forward successfully, in the Chief Minister’s New Year message at 8.30pm tonight.

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