The Referendum Revisited

[Jim Watt]

Because it has been so widely missquoted in the media, here is
reproduced here the actual wording on the 2002 referendum.

You will see that it is NOT an endorsement of the status quo, simply
a clear rejection by the people of the policy of the British
Government in seeking a solution involving Joint Sovereignty of
Gibraltar with Spain.

Although labelled "Unofficial" in practice the referendum was
organised by the Government of Gibraltar, the only competent
authority to do so, and supervised by an international team of
observers, headed up by Labour MP Gerald Kaufman, who ensured and
confirmed that campaigning and the process was fair.

In practice, apart from posters put up at the designated areas, it
was only the Voice of Gibraltar Group who actively canvassed for a
NO vote, touring the estates with a loudspeaker van.

Here is the actual wording presented to the electorate:

"On the 12th July 2002 the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, in a
formal statement in the House of Commons, said that after twelve
months of negotiation the British Government and Spain are in broad
agreement on many of the principles that should underpin a lasting
settlement of Spain's sovereignty claim, which included the
principle that Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over
Gibraltar.

Do you approve of the principle that Britain and Spain should share
sovereignty over Gibraltar?"

History records that with a turnout of 88% over 99% of the
electorate did not support the position taken by Mr Straw, the
self-appointed foreign secretary of Gibraltar.

The actual voting was as follows: 18176 voted representing 87.9% of
the electorate. There were 89 papers spoilt of which 72 were blank
18087 of which 187 Voted YES, and 17,900 voted NO.

The Chief Minister speaking on the result stated that:

"A clear message had been sent to the world, and that a democratic
politican at his own peril describes this result as irrelevent ...
The result is one of democracy at work in its purest form ... The
vote is the result of the will of the people of Gibraltar and that
the concept of "Joint Sovereignty" is a dead end."

--

This is available along with other significant texts about
the history of Gibraltar on http://www.gibnet.com/texts

--
Jim Watt
http://www.gibnet.com