today is the day brit licences no longer valid - Page 8

That's certainly a wider EU issue, but it shouldn’t be a stumbling block for UK - Spain bi-lateral talks - there’s enough stumbling blocks already!!

The issue of driving licences shouldn't see Gibraltar in a different scenario regarding equality of licence quality or legality? All three 'states' had the same system? All 3 respected each others licences?

With regards to the Northern Ireland protocol it should really have its own forum line but I would add that the Good Friday agreement, like Hong Kong has a slow burn transition element. Whilst the UK was in Europe there were no borders as such and encouraged the process of seeing that there was little to fight over. The anchronisms that is Gibraltar, like Ulster, are political legacy problems irrelevant to today's world. Local Spanish people have little problem with Gibraltar and don't see it as a problem, only Madrid does that at, any point it has a chance.

So, more arguments about nothing by highly paid diplomats who get paid regardless of results, at the expense of people's  stress and creating greater tension between people when we should be looking to reduce these piffling differences with the stroke of a pen. This problem was created by Spain when none existed.

You have a problem with Spain.  I get it.  But stop trying to gaslight and throw all the "blame" on to Spain.  Your comment that "Local Spanish people have little problem with Gibraltar and don't see it as a problem" indicates you have not spoken widely to locals.  Some are indifferent, yes, others, however, harbour very strong views on the subject.  Very very strong views indeed.  No, it's not just "Madrid"

Gibraltar has been a bone of contention for a very long time.  Just like the almost inevitable eventual re-unification of Ireland (one step closer with Sinn Fein winning elections), Gibraltar will, one day almost inevitably re-unify with the Spanish mainland.  Whether that is next year or next century is anybodies guess.  But it will happen.

What Britain seems to still be unable to understand, is that by removing themselves from the EU, they removed their previously agreed systems, practices, equivalences, recognitions etc etc etc as well.  You don't "leave the club" and automatically expect the same benefits.  And so, people suffer because there are roadblocks.  Probably from BOTH sides (no, it's not just Spain creating a problem) ... but there is quite obviously something connected with licencing that Spain requires and UK will not at this point give.  I imagine when UK eventually caves in (as it almost certainly will), the issue of equivalence of Gibraltar licences will cease to be a live issue.

Given UK's recent track record with agreements, I can only imagine that Spain is seeking some guarantees that will ensure UK cannot simply renege on any agreement when it no longer suits them to comply.

Sorry, the people working in and around Gibraltar had no problem day to day with it and happily travelled back and forth to go to work and shop etc. Sure the question of whether it is Spanish or English matters to some but why is it so important, it really amounts to a few square miles of land, no strategic or economic importance whatsoever.

The issue of licences is one of recording a number on a computer, it happened simply before on payment of a fee and sPAIN unilaterally decided to make it into an issue. Blame where blame lies. You reported Italy did the same but those two countries, on their own decided to make an issue even with citizens of EU countries have an English licence or had residency aka European rights before Brexit because they hold the dreaded UK licence and for no other reason? Yes, Spain is at fault for making a mountain out of a molehill.

The situation of the UK removing itself from the EU will create problems but this is a needless problem thrown onto the fire to make it worse and it is ordinary people that suffer for the ignorant and needless action of bureaucrats.

No economic importance whatsoever!!!!!!!.

It's an economic gold mine in shipping and gambling 

You’re quite wrong you know.  It’s never been simply a matter of recording a licence number on a computer.  On taking residency, you have long been obliged to surrender your UK licence and take a Spanish one.  Prior to Brexit, all you needed do was take the co-ordination and medical test and you could swap.

When access to the DVLA was curtailed, Spain could no longer check that unscrupulous people weren’t simply reporting their licence lost, getting a duplicate then handing original licence in, so keeping a licence for both countries, which as has been mentioned, is illegal.

You still have to surrender your UK licence, but I imagine having undergone a Spanish test, you’d be more willing to do so …

As you say, blame where blame lies and with the announcement today by Liz Truss’ staff of the draft document that effectively negates the NIP, and reneges on the agreement BoZo made with the EU in the withdrawal agreement, who would blame Spain for seeking cast-iron, utterly unbreakable guarantees?

Does anyone know of a  local place that you can take your theory test around los gallardos please 

I know that Brexit is to blame for everything from the price of bread to climate change but frankly, having lived in Spain for a number of years, this really does feel like the Spanish government trying to to take advantage of the situation to play hard ball on peripheral arrangements. I doubt that the EU commission is involved. This is Spain negotiating with us as they would any other non EU nation but crucially they have obviously decided to use licensing to beat the UK down on some other issue eg data on UK registered vehicles in relation to speeding offences. Although this is standard negotiating practice and is Spain's prerogative, it does feel unfair to those Brits who have decided to move here in good faith, and who wish to build there lives here happily bringing much needed capital injection to the local economy. It feels unjust and hits those Brits who are most onside with Spain. Either way, it is too reductive to simply blame the Brexit bogey monster and say that this is punishment for us leaving. The Spanish are better than that and frankly that sort of behaviour would validate Brexit in many peoples eyes, for after all who would want to belong to a club that punishes you for leaving.

What ever way you look at it if the uk was still part of Europe there would not be any problems regarding retiring to spain

Only for the people wanting to retire to Spain , and the ones who voted to leave the EU ? They do not care , that’s life. England voted to leave , so now are rights ( the ones who live in Spain ).. also have to adjust to that .. like the ones who now travel to Spain and have hoilday homes there … only 90 days. … brexit. Two sides to every story ….