Guernsey continues to plan incase of a "no deal Brexit"

Friday 24 August 2018

As the UK Government released the first in a series of Technical Notices advising what may happen in the event of a "no deal Brexit", Guernsey's most senior politician has tried to reassure residents and businesses of what the island is also doing to plan for such an event.

Deputy Gavin St Pier said Guernsey has to be ready to manage the changes that arise when Brexit actually happens, regardless of whether there is a deal or not, and that any risk of disruption to the island is minimised.

The UK Government this week released the first in a series of 'Technical Notices' which will be issued over the next month to help businesses and individuals understand what they would need to do in a ‘no deal’ scenario so they can make informed plans. The States of Guernsey said some of these Technical Notices will be relevant for businesses and individuals in the island, and so the States will also be publishing "ancillary information of key island-specific issues that arise."

This information will be published on the States website at gov.gg/brexit.

As President of the Policy and Resources Committee, Deputy St Pier is actively involved in preparing Guernsey for Brexit and he said again that work is ongoing to ensure the island is ready, no matter what happens.

“An orderly exit for the UK and EU is in Guernsey’s interests," he acknowledged. "Our focus is on ensuring that Guernsey is ready to manage the changes that arise as a result of Brexit, whether there is a deal or not.

"Progress on the UK/EU negotiations, UK work streams and Guernsey’s preparedness in relation to those work streams is monitored on a fortnightly basis by a Brexit group, which was created by the Policy & Resources Committee.  The UK’s Technical Notices build on information already published by the UK Government and provide a welcome opportunity to ensure individuals and businesses are aware of the impact of a no deal scenario, know what to expect, and can factor this into their own Brexit plans.

"This will help ensure that, whatever the outcome of the UK/EU negotiations, any risk of disruption is minimised.” 

Pictured: Deputy Gavin St Pier

A lot of work has already gone on to ensure Guernsey is prepared for Brexit and the States has said that covers "the full range of possible scenarios, including ‘no deal’, the maintenance of the status quo under the Implementation Period and the prospect of a new partnership with the EU."

The States of Guernsey said it has also been working closely across the whole of the UK Government to ensure the island is ready for the UK’s exit and to ensure the island's interests are being taken into account, "even when these interests differ from the UK’s interests."

The work so far includes regular meetings and discussions with the UK's Cabinet Office and the Department for Exiting the EU at a senior level and between Ministers, as well as various other UK Government departments.  

The States said this work also includes negotiating a new customs arrangement with the UK, seeking the extension of the UK’s membership of the World Trade Organisation, as well as exploring issues relating to financial services, immigration, fisheries, transport and data.

Pictured: Among numerous other meetings where Brexit has been a topic, Deputy St Pier has represented Guernsey at the British Irish Council summits 

For many people a "no deal" scenario for the UK would be the worst possible outcome as it would result in the UK leaving the EU and becoming a third country at 23:00 on 29 March 2019 with the absence of any other bespoke arrangements in place.  

This would mean that the Withdrawal Agreement and framework for a future partnership are not agreed between the UK and the EU.  This would end the UK/EU relationship as it currently stands and UK/EU trade would fall back on World Trade Organisation rules. The World Trade Organisation is the operating system on which all major global trading arrangements are based.

The States said for Guernsey, a "no deal" scenario would see the end of Protocol 3 and an end to the island's participation in the EU Customs Union. While in other ways the Bailiwick is already seen as a third county so there should be no direct impact. 

However, the States have warned there may be issues that impact island residents due to the Bailiwick's close relationship with the UK, such as nationality and immigration, the trade in goods with the EU via the UK or where rights are linked to the UK’s membership of the EU.  The States said it is "taking these issues into account and are taking mitigating action where necessary and possible to do so."

The States also said "there should be no change in Guernsey’s relationship with the UK as a result of a ‘no deal scenario’."