'Jaw-jaw' not war-war with Spain over Gibraltar, Theresa May insists

Comments from a former Conservative leader led to a call from Madrid for the UK to calm down, and forced Downing Street to dismiss suggestions that a taskforce could be sent to the Mediterranean outpost.

Theresa May has insisted that Britain's relations with Spain remain on a basis of "jaw-jaw", after a predecessor as Conservative leader suggested that she might be ready to resort to war to defend Gibraltar.

After an EU document suggested that Spain would be given a veto on post-Brexit agreements governing the British overseas territory, Lord Howard said he was certain that the Prime Minister would be ready to defend the Rock as Margaret Thatcher did the Falklands.