Spain’s acting prime minister

Mariano Rajoy/ AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANO

Spain’s acting prime minister Mariano Rajoy took a swipe Thursday at his British counterpart David Cameron who is due in Gibraltar to campaign against Brexit, telling him to stay at home.

The tiny British overseas territory nestled on the southern tip of Spain has long been a source of friction between London and Madrid, which wants it to come back under its control centuries after it was ceded to Britain in 1713.

Cameron’s visit to Gibraltar later Thursday will be the first by a British prime minister since 1968 and comes at a time of deep concern on the Rock over next week’s referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union.