I am greatly obliged to you, Mr Speaker, for calling me to
present my first petition this evening, which was given to
me today by the Representation in Westminster group from
the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.
As you will know, Mr Speaker, the people of Gibraltar are
proudly British, and they would like to be represented in
this place as all British citizens expect to be. They have
collected this chunky petition, which bears no fewer than
14,000 signatures, 11,200 of which are those of
Gibraltarian citizens. That represents 68% of the
electorate of Gibraltar. They will be losing their
representation by Members of the European Parliament, so
they feel that the time has come for them to have their own
Member of Parliament here in the sovereign Parliament of
our United Kingdom. The petition is supported by the Chief
Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, and the Deputy Chief
Minister, Joseph Garcia. It reads as follows:
The petition of British Citizens of Gibraltar,
Declares that it is a fundamental right of ours to
representation in the Houses of Parliament, Westminster.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons
urges the Government to grant Gibraltar representation in
the Houses of Parliament, Gibraltar.
And the petitioners remain, etc.
