Mr Picardo was responding to VOX rhetoric which Gibraltar’s Government believes to be “a clear strategy of disparaging Gibraltarians” intended to “create an atmosphere of hatred among Spaniards” – which the British overseas territory’s leader vowed would never go unchallenged “on my watch”. He said: “Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar is deeply committed to the principle of freedom of expression, but we will not accept that this fundamental freedom should be abused by those who mean to cause us harm by inciting hatred against the people of Gibraltar.
“There is an important dividing line between the right to speak one’s mind, however much we may disagree with the views expressed, and the incitement to hatred, libel, slander or defamation.
“We will not allow anyone to cross that line unchallenged and we will take every recourse available to us all and each of us, in every tribunal available to us, in order to counter those attempts we perceive to incite such hatred.
“History has seen these moments pass before without those who have raised the temperature in this way remaining unchallenged.
“That won’t happen on my watch and whilst my Cabinet colleagues and I are responsible for the discharge of our affairs.”
Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar has consequently filed the complaint against four VOX leaders, pursuant to Article 510 of the Spanish Penal Code which deals with offences of incitement to hatred.
In the complaint, the Government brings to the attention of the Spanish prosecutors a long list of what it regards as deliberately inflammatory statements.
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“Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar is mindful of a long and dark history in Europe where minorities have been targeted by extremist political ideologues.
“The outcomes of some of those campaigns of hatred are an indelible blot on European history and the Government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the promulgators of anti-Gibraltarian hate are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Government is urging Spanish prosecutors to investigate an online group called “Gibraltar: Español”, which the spokesman said “regularly disseminated unjustified allegations against Gibraltar” and of being “an avid echo-chamber for the anti-Gibraltarian propaganda of VOX.
He added: “These matters will also be raised directly with the social media platforms that host the puerile content of this group.”
Gibraltar has been in British hands since 1713 – but Madrid has never renounced its claim to sovereignty.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Picardo told the Gibraltarian Parliament: “Everyone beyond Gibraltar needs to understand that we are never going to compromise on matters of sovereignty, with the EU or any one of its Member States, in exchange for any trade arrangements or benefits.
“We are never going to sell our birthright for commercial advantage.
“I think most people already understand that.”