UK Government actively looking at future relationship with Guernsey

Thursday 16 November 2023

Discussions are taking place within the UK Government about whether to further formalise the relationship with Guernsey and the other Crown Dependencies.

The question of whether a refresh was needed was raised at a Justice Committee Inquiry hearing yesterday.

In 2007-08, the islands and the UK signed framework agreements on the further development of their international identities, but there are no formal constitutional documents.

Mike Freer MP, the minister responsible for the UK’s relationship with the dependencies, was quizzed about whether the frameworks were adequate or if a more formal agreement was now needed.

“It’s true to say the Lord Chancellor and I have discussed whether we need to refresh the formula of how we represent the constitutional requirements of the CDs.” he said.

“Beyond that it’s an active discussion whether we need to revisit it …to refresh that formal framework I think is a valid challenge and one I can say the Lord Chancellor and I are actively looking at. Where we go with it I think it’s too early to say.”

Pictured: Yesterday's Justice Committee Inquiry hearing.

Minister of State at the Department for Business of Trade the Rt Hon Greg Hands MP also answered questions from the committee.

Much of the focus was on trade agreements that the UK had signed since Brexit and how the islands’ views were represented in those talks.

Guernsey is keen to see service elements of free trade deals extended to the island, but has at times been frustrated.

Mr Hands said: “The Crown Dependencies bring something real to offer to the table and are a great asset when it comes to in terms of trade for the British family overall, but we also have to be careful, Sir Bob, in terms of ensuring compliance for the UK but also for the three Crown Dependencies.

“It’s technical and it's complicated and it can take considerable time and resources, not only in the UK Government but also in the Crown Dependency governments and ultimately it's the UK’s name on the international treaty and we obviously have to bear responsibility if there’s a lack of compliance. That's well understood in the Crown Dependencies as well.”

More to come...

What is the relationship between the Dependencies and the UK?

Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man are self-governing dependencies of the Crown with their own directly elected legislative assemblies, administrative, fiscal and legal systems. The CDs have never been colonies of the UK nor are they Overseas Territories which have a different relationship with the UK. They are not represented in the UK Parliament. 

The constitutional relationship between the three islands and the UK is maintained through the Crown and is not enshrined in any formal constitutional document. The King is the Head of State of each island and is represented in each by a Lieutenant-Governor. The UK Government is responsible for the defence and international relations of the islands, while the Crown, acting through Privy Council, is ultimately responsible for ensuring their ‘good government’. 

Pictured top: Mike Freer MP at the inquiry into the UK Government’s constitutional relationship with the Crown Dependencies. Image from Parliamentlive.TV.