The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is agog today as an inquest in Gibraltar outlines how fragile their relationships with the rest of the world really are. A hugely expensive KC-fuelled inquest into the resignation of the former Chief of Police in Gibraltar, Ian McGrail, will focus on the fractious relationship between Britain and Spain over the future of the British controlled “Rock”. A dispute that continues to this day.

Evidence will hear that the hapless McGrail – whose force was described as a mix between The Sweeney and Life on Mars – drew opprobrium from FCO careerist Nick Pyle as acting Governor, when the Royal Gibraltar Police Force smashed into an alleged smuggler’s boat in Spanish waters killing two men in 2020. Pyle was vastly concerned that this action, and a subsequent legal action by the dead men’s families, would affect the delicate post Brexit negotiations over Gibraltar and used it as an excuse to encourage McGrail from office.

Luckily for the FCO, help is at hand from leftie lawyers at Doughty Street Chambers whose young KC Ben Cooper is furthering McGrail’s “early retirement.” Which is odd. As batting for McGrail are two other Doughty Street Chambers briefs Adam Wagner and Caolifhionn Gallagher KC, who have racked up a combined £212,672 in bills so far. Whoever comes on top from the Doughty Street Chambers teams the FCO will be sweating.