Tim McNulty
A BRITISH MEP has been stripped of a key EU role after he accused opponents of ‘dirty tricks’ in the dispute over Gibraltar’s status.
Claude Moraes refused to accept the controversial description of the British overseas territory as a ‘colony’ in draft EU law.
The two largest parties, the European People’s Party and the Socialists & Democrats, forced through Moraes’ removal on the grounds of a conflict of interest.
The veteran MEP said: “This denigrates the parliament, it denigrates the UK’s position in the parliament.
“It is pretty dirty politics.”
Spain has long challenged British sovereignty over Gibraltar and argued the territory be described as a ‘colony of the British crown’ in legislation.
A number of Moraes’ fellow MEPs have defended him and called his removal an ‘unconstitutional act.’
Czech MEP Peter Jezek said: “I disassociate myself with this process and consider it scandalous that such a decision has been taken purely on the basis of the nationality.”
