Spain

Recent spat over Gibraltar was never intended to block Brexit deal. But next stage is different, where Spain has a veto on any deal.

To give us a trade deal, Paris wants even tougher “level playing field” conditions than those contained in the miserable “backstop”.

That nothing has been agreed on Gibraltar is troubling enough. The Rock’s potential future just beyond the EU’s frontier is even more so.

We haven’t heard much about Gibraltar and Brexit recently. But the next phase of talks will force ministers to face harsh reality.

It fuels jingoism, racism and war, whereas what we need is to work with others. That’s why EU was set up. More’s the pity we’re quitting.

InFacts looks back at all the Brexit developments in the week from August 6 to 11.

Only a minority put a privileged economic partnership above ensuring the future of the EU.

Brexiters casually threw the Rock under their battle bus. Now they’re sabre-rattling to cover up their responsibility.

Ministers don’t seem to care about damage Brexit could cause the Rock. Given that top Leavers claim to support Gibraltar, this is shameful.

SNP is using Brexit as excuse to call new independence referendum. But it’s being coy about whether it would want to be back in EU.

Hopes that Spain can be persuaded to take a softer line than Germany will be dashed - for a number of reasons, not least Gibraltar.

Continental businesses aren’t desperate for UK trade deal at any cost - suggesting exit could be painful and protracted.