Gibraltar Gets The Worst News About Its Post-Brexit Future

The nightmare Brexit scenario for expats and locals in Gibraltar has now been revealed.

The horrendous details of Brexit’s effect on the Rock and its inhabitants have been revealed as part of the Government’s Brexit Advice Booklet. The release coincided with Gibraltar’s new Brexit Information Office and is being received with anger and fear by expats as well as local people on both sides of the Spanish border.

It’s no surprise that its first prediction involves the daily movement of goods and people, stating both will be abnormally disrupted. Residents are being warned to expect border checks involving two-hour delays for pedestrians and private vehicles and delays of six hours or more for commercial traffic. In addition, the report warms Gibraltar’s tourism sector will be badly affected should a no-deal Brexit occur at the end of this month.

To make matters even worse, traffic congestion on the Rock’s northern road network will cause serious difficulties for both its supply chain and its emergency services. Nine risk assessments have been set out, involving both individuals and businesses, comprising land border checks, frontier workers, border inspection posts, congestion, resilience, waste, relocations, travel across the border and EU contingency measures.

Given that none of the above comes as a surprise to locals and expats living and working on the Rock, it’s nevertheless a shock to see their worst fears confirmed. Even although the content of the advisory booklet is the result of Gibraltar’s government’s worst scenario estimates, it’s obvious to anyone who knows and loves Gibraltar that the predictions are based on common-sense analysis of the Rock’s unique position and the proximity of Spain.