WHY, when the people of Gibraltar are so set against it, is the British Government so hell-bent on doing a sovereignty deal with Spain?

When Argentina attempted to take over the Falkland Islands 20 years ago, we went to war over it and lives were lost. While I don't advocate that, I do feel most strongly that the wishes of the Gibraltarians should be paramount.

That they do not want this 'deal' which is at present being negotiated is obvious to everyone, so why is Jack Straw being a Judas goat?

We all know that referendums can be so weighted that the outcome is never in question and I believe it will be so in this case. We won sovereignty of the Rock and were granted it in perpetuity, so why revoke that now?

I feel that we are betraying the loyalty and bravery the people of Gibraltar showed in World War Two by going ahead with this agreement with Spain. We will lose our naval base if this deal goes ahead and the Rock is the gateway to the Mediterranean.

EILEEN EASTHAM, Milton Close, Darwen.