Former Conservative leader Michael Howard has said Theresa May would “show the same resolve” over Gibraltar as Margaret Thatcher had done over the Falklands, if Brexit led to Spain advancing sovereignty claims over the UK territory.
Meanwhile Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told the BBC’s Eddie Mair that Gibraltar would be “protected all the way” in negotiations with the EU.
The EU’s negotiation guidelines said it would seek to hand Spain a veto over arrangements for Gibraltar, something which has angered both the UK Government and Gibraltar’s First Minister Fabian Picardo.
Mr Fallon said: “We are going to look after Gibraltar. Gibraltar will be protected all the way. The sovereignty of Gibraltar cannot be changed without the agreement of the people of Gibraltar and they have made it very clear they do not want to live under Spanish rule.”
Lord Howard told Sky News: "There is no question whatever that our Government will stand by Gibraltar.
"35 years ago this week another woman Prime Minister sent a task force half way across the World to defend the freedom of another small group of British people against another Spanish-speaking country.
"I am absolutely certain our current Prime Minister will show the same resolve."
A Number 10 spokesperson said that Theresa May had spoken with Gibraltar's First Minister and re-stated its commitment to the territory.
The spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister called the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, this morning.
“She reiterated our long-standing position that the UK remains steadfastly committed to our support for Gibraltar, its people and its economy. The Prime Minister said we will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes, nor will we ever enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.
"The Prime Minister said we remain absolutely dedicated to working with Gibraltar for the best possible outcome on Brexit, and will continue to involve them fully in the process.”
Gibraltar’s First Minister Fabian Picardo told the BBC that the prospect of living under shared sovereignty with Spain rule would be “awful” and would “strip us of who we are.”
Commenting on Michael Howard’s warning of a potential war with Spain over Gibraltar, Tim Farron, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said:
"It is unbelievable that within a week of triggering Article 50 there are Conservatives already discussing potential wars with our European neighbours.
"In only a few days the Conservative-right are turning long term allies into potential enemies. I hope this isn’t a sign of the Government’s approach to the long negotiations to come.
"Brexiteers have gone from cheering to sabre rattling for war in four days, it is absolutely ludicrous."
