Cameron pledges to ‘stand up for Gibraltar’ in border dispute with Spain

The Prime Minister said the interests of the population of the British Overseas Territory “matters to us deeply” as he held talks with Fabian Picardo, its chief minister, at Downing Street.

The meeting to discuss the ongoing border dispute with Spain came as Spanish police unions organised a protest at the border over injuries reportedly inflicted on a Guardia Civil officer by a Gibraltar-registered car.

There have been reports of increasing violence at the border in recent days as angry commuters face long queues to get to homes in Andalusia.

Mr Cameron told Mr Picardo: “Britain will always stand up for Gibraltar. We will always stand up for the interests of the people who live in Gibraltar. It is something that matters to us very deeply.”

Mr Picardo thanked him, saying: “The people of Gibraltar know they have a friend in David Cameron and a friend in William Hague”

Mr Picardo’s visit to the UK also saw him meet with Foreign Secretary William Hague on Wednesday to discuss the row with Spain over an artificial reef built off the coast of the enclave.

The Spanish say the 74 concrete blocks on the seabed disrupt an area used by its fishing boats, while the Gibraltarians say it was a necessary environmental measure. The row, which started at the beginning of this month, has gone all the way to the European Commission and continued to simmer in recent days.

Delays of several hours have continued at the frontier and have led to claims of violence against Spanish police and Guardia Civil officers.

The Royal Gibraltar Police are investigating claims that “a small number of missiles” were thrown at Guardia Civil officers carrying out stringent checks on traffic at the border on Wednesday.

The protest at the border yesterday was organised by police unions who claimed a Guardia Civil officer was injured after being dragged by a car with Gibraltar number plates which refused to stop at the border.