1967 Gibraltar sovereignty referendum

A sovereignty referendum was held in Gibraltar on 10 September 1967, in which Gibraltarian voters were asked whether they wished to either pass under Spanish sovereignty, with Gibraltarians keeping their British citizenship and a special status for Gibraltar within Spain; or remain under British sovereignty, with institutions of self-government.

Overview

Upon the request of the resolution 2070 of the United Nations General Assembly (approved on 16 December 1965), the governments of Spain and the United Kingdom started formal talks on Gibraltar during 1966. On 18 May 1966, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fernando Castiella made a formal proposal to the UK Government comprising three clauses:

1. The cancellation of the Treaty of Utrecht and the subsequent return of Gibraltar to Spain.
2. The presence of the British base in Gibraltar, its use being subject to a specific Anglo-Spanish agreement.
3. A "Personal Statute" for Gibraltarians, under United Nations guarantee, protecting their cultural, social and economic interest in Gibraltar or anywhere else in Spain, including their British nationality. An "appropriate [..] administrative formula" should be also agreed.

The Spanish offer had little chance of being accepted by Gibraltarians. At that time, the Spanish claim was being made by the Francoist dictatorship which had arisen from a bloody civil war which did not allow its own citizens the civil liberties that the British government guaranteed to the Gibraltarians. Furthermore, the Spanish economy, though beginning to grow, was still very backward (especially compared to the living standard the Gibraltarians had achieved), while at the same time working-class people across the frontier were living in a state of great poverty. Economic considerations aside, the idea of Spain participating in any way the sovereignty or government of The Rock was unacceptable to nearly all Gibraltarians.

The options presented to Gibraltarians were:

1. To pass under Spanish sovereignty in accordance with the terms proposed by the Spanish Government to Her Majesty's Government on 18 May 1966; or
2. Voluntarily to retain their link with Britain, with democratic local institutions and with Britain retaining its present responsibilities.

Results

Choice	Votes	%
British sovereignty	12,138	99.64
Spanish sovereignty	44	0.36
Invalid/blank votes	55	–
Total	12,237	100
Registered voters/turnout	12,672	95.67
Source: Direct Democracy

Aftermath

A new constitution was passed in 1969. Gibraltar National Day has been celebrated annually on 10 September since 1992 to commemorate Gibraltar's first sovereignty referendum of 1967.

Gallery

Related images

• 
  Devil's Gap Road in Gibraltar's Upper Town. The steps have been painted with the Union Flag ever since the referendum
• 
  A car painted to celebrate the results of the referendum
• 
  Referendum Gate at Southport Gates in Charles V Wall, Gibraltar. Named to commemorate the referendum

See also

• Gibraltar Constitution Order 1969
• History of Gibraltar