UK House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle visits Gibraltar

Last week saw the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, pay a four-day visit to Gibraltar. During his trip, the Speaker visited the Bayside Comprehensive School, the University of Gibraltar, and members of the armed forces stationed in the Overseas Territory.

Whilst visiting Bayside School, the Speaker held a discussion group with pupils about the recent UK Parliament Week events held in the territory. He also applauded their engagement with the ‘Make Your Mark’ scheme, an initiative launched earlier this year to promote the voices of young people across the Overseas Territories at the UK’s Youth Parliament. When interviewed about the event by the GBC, one student described the opportunity as a ‘privilege’ and a ‘really great day’, whilst Sir Lindsay Hoyle praised the ‘brilliant’ quality of the questions and debate at the event.

In addition to school visits, the Speaker also attended the annual graduation ceremony at the University of Gibraltar, which saw 78 students gain their degrees from the institution. In an address to those gathered for the ceremony, Sir Lindsay commended the graduates on their achievements, calling them ‘a credit to the university, to Gibraltar and to yourselves’. He also urged them to ‘take the knowledge that you have attained and use it to transform your life and the lives of those around you’. Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, Fabian Picard, was also quoted in the Gibraltar Chronicle as being ‘so proud of the University of Gibraltar, of all of you, of all of your teachers… floreat the University of Gibraltar’.

The Speaker also toured military establishments across the territory and held meetings with the soldiers, sailors and airmen responsible for protecting the rock. In addition to discussions with Commodore Tom Guy, Commander of British Forces in Gibraltar, Sir Lindsay also met with the Commanding Officer of the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron, Lieutenant Commander Simon Holden. Speaking to the media after the event, Lt Cdr Holden said he was ‘delighted to have welcomed Mr Speaker to RNGS and update him on the achievements of the Squadron, as well as giving him the opportunity to speak with the team who deliver daily on operations and make our achievements possible’.

This visit by the Speaker comes following recent concerns over the slow progress of post-Brexit negotiations with Spain over its border with Gibraltar. Last October saw protests break out in the Spanish border town of La Linea after Madrid temporarily reintroduced stringent controls, leading to substantial delays at crossing points and fears for the continued prosperity of the regional economy. With uncertainty lingering over the government’s commitment to its Overseas Territories following the controversial BIOT handover deal with Mauritius, engagements such as this are crucial to underscore the new government’s continued support for territories like Gibraltar.