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I am a rock: how it feels to be a Brexit voter in Gibraltar I am a rock: how it feels to be a Brexit voter in Gibraltar
(2 months later)
John Bromfield is the rarest of birds. He is one of the 823 Gibraltarians who voted last week to leave the European Union, despite fears that it would harm trade and stoke Spanish demands for sovereignty over the Rock. Most of the 823 have gone to ground – being part of a 4% minority is potentially unpleasant – but Bromfield is not made that way. “People here are trying to find out via Facebook who the 823 are, and leave voters fear recriminations,” he says. “I thought about putting an advert in saying ‘I’m number one’.”John Bromfield is the rarest of birds. He is one of the 823 Gibraltarians who voted last week to leave the European Union, despite fears that it would harm trade and stoke Spanish demands for sovereignty over the Rock. Most of the 823 have gone to ground – being part of a 4% minority is potentially unpleasant – but Bromfield is not made that way. “People here are trying to find out via Facebook who the 823 are, and leave voters fear recriminations,” he says. “I thought about putting an advert in saying ‘I’m number one’.”
Bromfield is not amused by the discussions this week between Gibraltar’s chief minister Fabian Picardo and Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon, both determined to find some way of staying in the EU. “The politicians are playing with the situation instead of getting on with running their countries,” he says. “They should be dealing with the current problems rather than trying to circumvent the result of the referendum.”Bromfield is not amused by the discussions this week between Gibraltar’s chief minister Fabian Picardo and Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon, both determined to find some way of staying in the EU. “The politicians are playing with the situation instead of getting on with running their countries,” he says. “They should be dealing with the current problems rather than trying to circumvent the result of the referendum.”
Leave barely campaigned on the Rock, where both the government and the opposition were committed to staying in the EU. “The remain campaign was extremely forceful,” says the 71-year-old Bromfield, who has several import-export businesses based in Gibraltar and the UK, “and nobody wanted to make a Brexit campaign issue of it.” He took it upon himself to fill the gap, with a series of articles in the Gibraltar Chronicle backing leave.Leave barely campaigned on the Rock, where both the government and the opposition were committed to staying in the EU. “The remain campaign was extremely forceful,” says the 71-year-old Bromfield, who has several import-export businesses based in Gibraltar and the UK, “and nobody wanted to make a Brexit campaign issue of it.” He took it upon himself to fill the gap, with a series of articles in the Gibraltar Chronicle backing leave.
Related: Britain rejects Spain's talk of joint sovereignty for Gibraltar
With its population of just 30,000, Bromfield describes Gibraltar as a family. But being so close-knit can be claustrophobic. “The government has a policy that ‘If you’re not with us, you’re against us’,” he says, “and there is a perception that it will make an issue of that. But I haven’t had a problem.” He says the key issue for him is sovereignty. “I wanted to have a sovereign British management of my country, where MPs are accountable and responsible for what they do. I did not want to be part of a federal state of Europe.” The threat to trade was, Bromfield insists, overstated. “The one company that said it was likely to leave has reneged on that statement this morning.”With its population of just 30,000, Bromfield describes Gibraltar as a family. But being so close-knit can be claustrophobic. “The government has a policy that ‘If you’re not with us, you’re against us’,” he says, “and there is a perception that it will make an issue of that. But I haven’t had a problem.” He says the key issue for him is sovereignty. “I wanted to have a sovereign British management of my country, where MPs are accountable and responsible for what they do. I did not want to be part of a federal state of Europe.” The threat to trade was, Bromfield insists, overstated. “The one company that said it was likely to leave has reneged on that statement this morning.”
As for Picardo and Sturgeon, he argues they should have the grace to accept defeat. “They are pursuing an unachievable goal,” he says. Scotland and Gibraltar have both in the past had the chance to leave the UK, and chosen to stay. Now, they must go along with what the population of the UK as a whole has decided.As for Picardo and Sturgeon, he argues they should have the grace to accept defeat. “They are pursuing an unachievable goal,” he says. Scotland and Gibraltar have both in the past had the chance to leave the UK, and chosen to stay. Now, they must go along with what the population of the UK as a whole has decided.
“Gibraltar can easily remain in Europe by going for joint sovereignty with Spain,” says Bromfield, “but that is something they would never do. And if they did, Britain would walk away from that partnership, and Spain would eventually take control.” In Gibraltar, the 4% reckon it’s game, set and match.“Gibraltar can easily remain in Europe by going for joint sovereignty with Spain,” says Bromfield, “but that is something they would never do. And if they did, Britain would walk away from that partnership, and Spain would eventually take control.” In Gibraltar, the 4% reckon it’s game, set and match.