Why has the British colony of Gibraltar not been returned to Spain despite the latter's request that it be returned?

Answer 1

First of all, let us correct the terminology. Gibraltar is not a British colony; it is a self-governing British Overseas Territory. Gibraltar has its own legislature, passes its own laws, has its own police, etc. It is a separate country under the aegis and protection of the UK. This is fundamentally different from a colony, which is governed by individuals appointed and directed by the metropole whose views may be out-of-touch with the people they govern.

As for why Britain has not returned Gibraltar to Spain; the Gibraltarian people do not want this. The Gibraltarian people have been consistent in their disapproval of becoming part of Spain and Britain has chosen to honor this decision.

For example, in response to Spanish Caudillo Franco's overtures to have Gibraltar reunited with Spain, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain under British sovereignty in the Gibraltar sovereignty referendum of 1967, which led to the passing of the Gibraltar Constitution Order in 1969. In another referendum held in 2002, in response to a proposal of shared sovereignty on which Spain and Britain were said to have reached "broad agreement", Gibraltarians rejected the change by an overwhelming majority (98%). A new Constitution Order was approved in referendum in 2006, which created the current mostly autonomous government of Gibraltar.