Former Brexit Minister Lord Frost has tabled a series of pointed parliamentary questions following Labour’s announcement of a political agreement between the UK and the European Union concerning Gibraltar.
The questions target key aspects of the proposed arrangements relating to border controls, sovereignty, and the rights of British citizens and service personnel.
The agreement, announced yesterday, aims to finalise post-Brexit arrangements for the British Overseas Territory, which borders Spain and sits outside the EU customs union and Schengen area. While full details have yet to be published, Lord Frost has raised concerns about the agreement’s implications, particularly around sovereignty and the movement of people.
“I expect them to be answered fully and accurately, and not simply avoided as has unfortunately become this government’s habit,” Lord Frost said, urging transparency and scrutiny over what he described as “significant questions of national interest.”
The questions tabled in the House of Lords are as follows:
- Armed Forces Entry Protocols: Will members of the British armed forces serving in Gibraltar be required to go through Schengen area entry clearance before they can take up their roles?
- Entry Checks for British Citizens: Will British citizens entering Gibraltar—and not intending to leave the territory—have to undergo Schengen area entry checks?
- Potential for Rejection by Schengen Officials: Could access to Gibraltar by British citizens be rejected by Schengen area officials?
- 90-Day Schengen Rule Application: Will any stay by British citizens in Gibraltar count against the 90-day limit applied to third-country nationals entering the Schengen area?
- Right of Hot Pursuit: Will Schengen officials have the right of “hot pursuit” into Gibraltar, including its territorial waters, as provided under Article 41 of the Schengen Agreement?
- Sovereignty Over Gibraltar Airport: Will there be any changes to UK sovereignty over Gibraltar Airport or its legal and practical operating environment, other than those required to operate new Schengen controls?
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has not yet issued a response, but officials have indicated that an explanation of the agreement’s provisions will be released in due course.
The questions underscore ongoing sensitivity over Gibraltar’s post-Brexit status, a long-standing diplomatic issue between the UK and Spain. The UK government has consistently stated that sovereignty over Gibraltar is not up for negotiation.
Lord Frost’s intervention signals growing concern among Conservative peers and Brexit supporters about possible EU overreach and the transparency of negotiations. His remarks are expected to fuel further debate in both Houses as scrutiny of the Gibraltar agreement intensifies.
