Theresa May would go to war to defend Gibraltar in the same way Margaret Thatcher set out to reclaim the Falklands, a former Tory leader has claimed.

Michael Howard said Mrs May would show the 'same resolve' her predecessor did 35 years ago today when the Falklands War began.

The intervention came as Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon vowed to defend the Rock 'all the way'.

Mrs May spoke to Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo today to offer him reassurance Britain is 'absolutely dedicated to working with Gibraltar for the best possible outcome on Brexit'.

Mr Picardo earlier denied a split with No 10 while on a snap visit to London, insisting he had worked with Mrs May on 'tactical and strategic decisions'.

The row was triggered on Friday when Spain was handed an effective veto over the Brexit deal by the EU Council's draft negotiating guidelines said Madrid could exclude Gibraltar. The shock move opened a new front in diplomatic battle for Brexit.

It has been claimed Spain seized the advantage when Theresa May failed to specifically mention Gibraltar in her Article 50 letter on Wednesday - prompting suggestions of a rift with the peninsula's government.

Former Tory leader Michael Howard today said Theresa May would go to war to defend Gibraltar in the same way Margaret Thatcher reclaimed the Falklands

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon, pictured on the Andrew Marr show today, vowed Britain would defend Gibraltar 'all the way' on the 35th anniversary of the Falklands War

Theresa May has insisted Britain will stand up for Gibraltar after the Spanish were handed a veto on whether the Brexit deal applies to the territory

While a full-blown Falklands-style conflict is unlikely, Spanish ships regularly breach Gibraltar's territorial waters and are often met by Royal Navy ships.

Asked if Britain would defend Gibraltar as it did the Falklands, Sir Michael told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: 'We are going to look after Gibraltar - it is going to be protected all the way because the sovereignty of Gibraltar cannot be changed without the people of Gibraltar.

'They have been very clear they do not want to live under Spanish rule.'

Lord Howard went further, telling Sky News's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: 'There is no question whatever that our Government will stand by Gibraltar.

'35 years ago this week another woman Prime Minister sent a task force half way across the World to defend the freedom of another small group of British people against another Spanish-speaking country.

'I am absolutely certain our current Prime Minister will show the same resolve.'

Protection of Gibraltar and the Falklands were linked in the same paragraph of the Conservative manifesto.

Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands 35 years ago today, prompting Margaret Thatcher to send a British task force to reclaim the South Atlantic territory.

Sir Michael said Britain would fight to defend the Rock, which has been a British territory for centuries in the Brexit talks

Also speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, Mr Picardo denied a rift with No 10.

He said: 'We are working very, very closely with the British Government. There is a joint ministerial council that includes Gibraltar.'

THE ONE SENTENCE THAT COULD TRASH THE WHOLE DEAL The EU's Gibraltar bombshell was revealed in a single sentence of the nine page draft guidelines. It hands Spain a veto over whether the Brexit deal applies to Gibraltar - something which could make the entire deal untenable for Britain. It reads: 'After the United Kingdom leaves the Union, no agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom may apply to the territory of Gibraltar without the agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and the United Kingdom.' Advertisement

He claimed: 'The Article 50 letter does make reference to Gibraltar, if not explicitly, then tangentially by cross referencing to the White Paper where the Government has set out in more detail what it is going to do.'

Mr Picardo insisted: 'I'm not thrilled we are in the situation that we are - Gibraltar voted 96 per cent to Remain - but we have energetically decided we have to support the Prime Minister in making Brexit a success.

'When we get the deal on Brexit... it is only fair, proper and right it applies to Gibraltar.

'Gibraltar is not on the table as a chip - anybody who thinks that we are is not realising what this is about.'

He added: It's just a draft at the moment. Let's see what comes back on April 29. But even if it comes back as it is, it's clear we are entering a negotiation.

Spain was handed an effective veto over the Brexit deal on Friday when the EU Council's draft negotiating guidelines said Madrid could exclude Gibraltar

'This is somebody else's document. It's not our document. If this was in the British document, I would be very upset.'

SPAIN DROPS EU VETO ON INDEPENDENT SCOTLAND Spain dropped its opposition to an independent Scotland joining the EU today. The move is another irritation from Madrid for Theresa May who is battling for Brexit abroad and in defence of the union at home. Spain has long been opposed to Scotland joining the EU amid its own problems with Catalonia wanting independence. But foreign minister Alfonso Dastis said: ''We don't want it [Scottish independence] to happen. 'But if it happens legally and constitutionally, we would not block it. 'We don't encourage the breakup of any member states, because we think the future goes in a different direction.' The SNP welcomed the move which makes it harder for critics to argue an independent Scotland would be barred from the EU. Other EU states, including Belgium, remain opposed. Advertisement

Revealing a call between Mrs May and Mr Picardo a Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'The Prime Minister called the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, this morning.

'She reiterated our long-standing position that the UK remains steadfastly committed to our support for Gibraltar, its people and its economy.

'The Prime Minister said we will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes, nor will we ever enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.

'The Prime Minister said we remain absolutely dedicated to working with Gibraltar for the best possible outcome on Brexit, and will continue to involve them fully in the process.'

Miriam Gonzalez, the Spanish wife of former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, today said there are 'always two sides' to issues such as Gibraltar, in an appearance on the Andrew Marr Show.

The Sunday Times today reported that Gibraltar was left out of the Article 50 letter at the request of the Government in Madrid.

Mrs May did leave it out despite apparent warnings from Gibraltar that Spain would then take advantage, as transpired.

Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo denied a split today on a snap visit to London, insisting he had worked with No 10 on 'tactical and strategic decisions'.

A minister told the paper: 'The Gibraltarian government is feeling very let down.

THE ROCK HAS BEEN BRITISH SINCE 1713 Gibraltar, a rocky peninsula on the Spanish coast, has been a British territory since 1713 and the Government is committed to allowing the people of Gibraltar self determination. The people of Gibraltar were allowed to take part in the EU referendum and voted overwhelmingly against Brexit. They also voted almost unanimously to stay British in 2002. Despite the referendums, the tiny outpost has been the source of frequent diplomatic tension between Britain and Spain, which believes it should be returned. Spanish vessels regularly breach Gibraltar's territorial waters and the country's ambassadors are frequently summoned to the Foreign Office for a dressing down. Royal Navy ships patrol the waters to ward off the irritating breaches while the Royal Air Force uses the peninsula's runway. Advertisement

The Spanish have gone behind our backs and got their side of the argument in the EU [draft negotiating guidelines].

'They've put the issue up in lights and Gibraltar might be pivotal when it wasn't before.

'This is an illustration of how one issue can jeopardise the entire unanimous agreement we need to get any deal.'

On Friday, Spain defended the position as minister Inigo Mendez de Vigo said 'this is an important point in the future negotiations of the United Kingdom's exit from the EU'.

A senior diplomat in Brussels said: 'This seems intended to give Spain something so they don't try to hold the whole withdrawal treaty hostage over it.'

Andrew Rosindell, the Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gibraltar, told the Telegraph: 'An agreement without including Gibraltar means there can be no agreement.

'British people must and will stand together, we cannot be bullied by Spain, any agreement must apply equally to the whole British family and that includes Gibraltar.

'There can be no compromise on this.'