On Wednesday the Morecambe & Lunesdale MP David Morris will bring the Gibraltar (Marine Protection) Bill to the House of Commons.
The Bill will have two primary aims. The first is to formally define in UK Law the territorial waters of Gibraltar. Whilst the UK has the right to claim 12 nautical miles David will instead be following the Gibraltar Governments lead by defining it as 3 nautical miles from the coast.
The second aim will be to enshrine a right for Gibraltar to require the UK to provide whatever Coast Guard support is needed to enforce this 3 mile stretch.
Speaking ahead of the debate David Morris MP said:
“My Bill will define and protect Gibraltar’s right to territorial waters under UK law, so that there can be no doubt where the territorial waters of Gibraltar are located geographically.”
“I have received lots of support for the Bill from people who live in Gibraltar via Twitter and I would like to thank everyone for the many tweets.”
David Morris MP visited Gibraltar last month for National Day celebrations and to discuss the contents of the Bill.
The Bill will be introduced under the ‘Ten Minute Rule’ and is scheduled to go before the House of Commons immediately after Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 16th October.
(Photograph: David Morris MP with Gibraltar's First Minister Fabian Picardo.)