Deputies' visit to Westminster postponed again

Wednesday 10 November 2021

New covid-19 restrictions at the Palace of Westminster have forced another postponement of a working visit to Parliament by nine deputies who entered the States last year.

Simon Ross, States’ Greffier, said the purpose of the visit is “to provide delegates with an overview of the work and political systems of the Houses of Parliament”.

“The delegation was due to discuss key issues in Parliament, such as Brexit, fishing rights, covid-19 and COP26; attend and explore the role of Select Committees; attend a session on Standing Orders (Rules of Procedure); attend Prime Minister’s Questions; and visit and discuss local government issues with the London Assembly,” said Mr Ross.

“They were due to meet the Speaker, the Clerk of the House of Commons, members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Channel Islands and new MPs from the December 2019 intake to discuss the opportunities and challenges of being a new parliamentarian. They were also due to meet the acting Chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the Secretary-General of the CPA."

Newly-elected deputies have been invited to visit the Houses of Parliament after each of the past five general elections in Guernsey. Covid-19 initially delayed this term’s visit until this month and it has now been postponed until spring next year.

“During the peak of the pandemic, the parliamentary estate was not open to people off the estate so there were no inbound delegations from other parts of the world to Westminster," said Mr Ross.

“Unfortunately, the House has changed its position based on advice from the UK Health Security Agency, which has determined that the risk of transmission of the virus on the parliamentary estate is now greater.

“The parliamentary authorities have therefore decided to revert to limited face-to-face meetings and to cancel all non-essential parliamentary business, which means we unfortunately will not be able to host a physical visit to Westminster later this month. It is hoped the visit will now take place in spring 2022.” 

Pictured: Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller and other deputies who entered the States at the last general election in October 2020 were due to take part in a working visit to the Houses of Parliament this month, but it has been postponed due to covid-19 restrictions. 

Mr Ross said it was disappointing that newly-elected deputies had so far been denied an opportunity available to their predecessors.

“Our links with other parliaments, particularly the Parliaments and Assemblies of the British Isles, are very important to us," he said. "Guernsey can flourish only as a part of the wider world. It helps new deputies build links with peers and members of parliament in the UK. It also provides us with the opportunity to make sure Guernsey is known and understood by parliamentarians at Westminster.

“It is disappointing, but I am optimistic we will be able to pick up the threads and do this programme in the spring."

The costs of the quadrennial visit were included in the 2021 budget for the Guernsey branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.