What were Gibraltar's 1967 and 2002 sovereignty referendums?

Short answer

In 1967 Gibraltarians voted by 12,138 to 44 to remain under British sovereignty rather than pass to Spain, and in 2002 they rejected the principle of shared British and Spanish sovereignty by 17,900 votes to 187.

Detailed answer

The 1967 referendum. In the 1960s the United Nations called on the United Kingdom to negotiate with Spain over Gibraltar's sovereignty. The UK responded by consulting the people of Gibraltar directly. The referendum was held on Sunday 10 September 1967, with a very high turnout. The result was 12,138 votes to retain the link with Britain and 44 in favour of passing to Spanish sovereignty, a majority of over 99 per cent. The date is now celebrated as Gibraltar National Day. Spain's government under General Franco closed the land border in 1969.

The 2002 referendum. Between 1997 and 2002 the UK and Spanish governments held talks on a possible arrangement of joint sovereignty. In response, the Government of Gibraltar organised its own referendum on the principle of joint sovereignty, held on Thursday 7 November 2002. Neither the UK nor the Spanish government took part in organising it. The proposal was rejected by 17,900 votes to 187. The UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee later noted that the talks then lapsed and sovereignty was effectively taken off the agenda.

The 2006 Constitution. A further referendum on Thursday 30 November 2006 approved a new Gibraltar Constitution. Its preamble records the UK's commitment never to enter into arrangements under which Gibraltarians would pass under another state's sovereignty against their freely and democratically expressed wishes.

Both referendums are regularly cited in debates on Gibraltar's future, including in the context of later UK, Spain and EU negotiations.