'Donkey' insult in The Sun column over Gibraltar incenses Spanish public

Former director of the right-wing red-top, Kelvin MacKenzie, titled his piece: “The Spanish are off their Rioja over Gibraltar...so let's put up a good ol' British fight.”

Although this is a play on words for 'off their rocker', Spanish readers have interpreted it that they are a nation of drunkards, and many say this is rich considering the alcohol-fuelled indecency reported every year in Magaluf.

Referring to the UK's European friends becoming 'foes', MacKenzie continues: “Take the creeps running Spain.

“Thanks to Brexit they are flexing their muscles over Gibraltar.

“Could I remind them the locals have made clear in vote after vote that they don't want the donkey-rogerers running their efficient little outpost.”

Reactions to this epithet have ranged from fury to humour, with memes appearing already on Twitter featuring cartoon donkeys, created and posted by Spanish social network users.

MacKenzie has done little for diplomatic bilateral relations – or to curry favour with British expats in Spain - with his 'recommendations' for prime minister Theresa May if 'the Spanish don't butt out'.

Firstly, he advises, “we tell the 12 million Brits who head to Spain each year not to bother. All Spanish flights are denied airspace.”

He then adds that Scottish fishing quotas worth 65 million pounds 'surrendered to Spanish and Dutch trawlers' should be taken back from them.

As well as 'a special import tax on Rioja' and 'scrapping the planned Spanish royal visit' due in summer, the columnist refers to the '125,000 Spaniards working in the UK', adding, “Say adiós, Manuel.”

“We have plenty of cards to play and a bigger armed service always concentrates the mind,” MacKenzie continues.

Fortunately, Spanish commenters have given as good as they got, with a string of replies to the article in English, and have been backed by responses from British readers criticising the column.