States' Assembly in new book about Commonwealth parliaments

Saturday 11 December 2021

Guernsey's Parliament is featured in a new book published to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth parliaments and legislatures which supports and promotes the values of the Commonwealth. The anniversary book showcases parliament buildings around the Commonwealth and provides an insight into their varied histories.

“Guernsey is a longstanding member of the CPA and I cannot believe a decade has passed since Guernsey sent a delegation to Westminster Hall to celebrate the CPA centenary," said Simon Ross, States' Greffier and Secretary of the Guernsey branch of the CPA.

"The Royal Court Chamber was never really designed with an eye to comfort but it is one of the oldest and most beautiful parliamentary spaces in the Commonwealth and it is good to see it celebrated here in the pages of this book."

The book also features the parliament buildings of Jersey and Alderney. And it includes a message from the CPA’s Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth. The Queen has visited almost every parliament building in the Commonwealth during her reign.

Pictured: For the past 134 years, the States' Chamber in Jersey has provided a dedicated venue for meetings of the States and facilities for States' members, whereas in Guernsey the States' Assembly still meets in the Royal Court. 

The CPA was founded on 18 July 1911 as the Empire Parliamentary Association by Members of Parliament from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Newfoundland and South Africa. 110 years later, the membership of the CPA, which succeeded the Empire Parliamentary Association in October 1948, has grown to more than 180 parliaments and legislatures across the 54 countries of the modern Commonwealth. 

The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg, a former Labour MP, said: “Over the decades, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has experienced a transformation in our membership to a more diverse composition which better reflects the people that we aim to represent.

"During this time, the parliament buildings of the Commonwealth have adapted to meet the requirements of the modern world, while, at the same time, maintaining heritage buildings and parliamentary chambers. This special 110th anniversary book showcases their remarkable histories.”