Vote of confidence
Tuesday 30th March 2010, 3:00PM BST.
The House of Commons cross-party review says that the Channel Islands are more than adequately advised by their own law officers
THE UK government should support the Crown Dependencies on the international stage but not meddle unnecessarily in their internal affairs, a senior House of Commons cross-party committee has concluded.
In a landmark endorsement of Jersey’s right to self-government, the Justice Committee says that the independence of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man should only be set aside ‘in the most serious cases’.
‘The Crown Dependencies are democratic, self-governing communities with free media and open debate,’ it says.
However, citing the example of the Sark which until fairly recently had a feudal system of government, it adds: ‘We note that, in very small jurisdictions, it is possible for the existence of very significant economic, legal or political power to skew the operation of democratic government and this is a possibility in respect of which the Ministry of Justice should remain vigilant.’
There is also clear criticism of the UK government’s handling of the scrapping of the reciprocal health agreement, which left Islanders ineligible for all but emergency health care when in England.
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‘We note that, in very small jurisdictions, it is possible for the existence of very significant economic, legal or political power to skew the operation of democratic government’
Phew, glad nothing like that happens in Jersey!
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“The Crown Dependencies are democratic, self-governing communities with free media and open debate”
Well that is indeed a curious comment; since January 1973 the UK has not been a self governing nation.
Following subsequent EU Treaties and Inter-governmental confrences the UK is less than a sovereign state than Florida is within the USA. That fact has a baring on the ‘independence’ of Jersey.
EU institutions, regulations and directives have an influence, though sometimes invisable, baring on Jersey with the most significant ‘interference’ will shortly to impact on Jersey’s finance industry by way of four new regulatory organsiations.
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I am still waiting for our elusive Syvret to sue Jack Straw and turn Strasberg against us. But I wait with bated breath.
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‘self governing communities with free media and open debate’……..? who are they talking about…? not this island, We all know its a dictatorship. Sorry J.E.P but you hardly give a balanced account of political events.
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3. Is the pay good?
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Can anyone explain to me how a democracy can have nearly 10% of its assembly unelected?
I am not expecting an answer, as to answer this would mean they would have to accept that yes a democracy does not have unelected members in it, which by default means Jersey isn’t democratic.
Free and unbalanced media? Sorry but I don’t believe that at all, thats why I use blogs now to find out whats what.
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Mr Troy writes as if he is an expert on the finance industry in Jersey and the Crown Dependency’s relationship with the UK and ultimately Europe. His standing as a UKIP MEP Candidate in Scotland a few years ago and peddling of anti European propaganda does not give him some sort of unique insight. I don’t think he understands the way offshore business, especially finance works and evolves.
One way or another Jersey will survive, it may have to change its direction and become more like the financial centres of Eire, Gibraltar and Malta as part of the EU. But it will survive despite all the neagh sayers.
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As Simon says Jersey will become more like (but much smaller than) the financial centres of Eire, Gibralta and Malta as part of the EU. That is my very point an since that is shorely not desirable it needs to be discussed, underttod and then resisted.
My motivation for standing as the Lead Candidate for UKIP in the EU Elections in Scotland in 2004 was in part due to the mass of EU propaganda,federalist control and non-democratic government with many refer to as ‘Europe’; they mean the huge political construct that is the EU.
I have been writing, broadcating and giving presentations on banking and political issues for three decades which is where I derive my insight and concerns as to the future negative influnence of the EU on Jersey’s finance industry; the evidence is there for those who wish to remove their blindfolds and understand the effect of the EU for what it is.
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The point that Peter Troy is making is that independence from the UK is not the issue, but real independence from the EU is. For as long as the CI s are not members of the EU the EU will chip away at Jersey’s self government. The devil is in the detail:
Two examples, all the recent employment law that has been introduced whilst excluding many of the UK government’s ‘gold plaiting’ is all EU law (directives and regulations from the past 40 years). Secondly, the EU directive on Alternative Investment Fund Managers could exclude funds in the Channel Islands from selling into 27 counties in Europe.
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They cannot have look very closely!
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“Free and unbalanced media? Sorry but I don’t believe that at all, thats why I use blogs now to find out whats what.”
And that is why Adrian you will forever be encased in a cocoon of ignorance, conspiracy theories and agenda driven nonsense. Welcome to the world of blogging, welcome to a new dark age.
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It is highly unlikely that Protocol 3 of the Treaty of Rome – which defines the Crown dependencies’ relationship with the European Union – will exist in a few years’ time. In preparation for this Jersey and Guernsey will have to come together with a common stratgy.
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Jersey will carry on for as long as it is allowed to and not a minute longer. It is more imperative than ever to diversify away from finance into a sustainable, self reliant industry that isn’t beholdent to anyone or anything else.
I view Jersey as being much like Yellowstone National Park, fine and dandy until the lid blows off. Then all hell will break loose.
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Re Adrian – when your very correct point is understood progress will then be made, that I fear will take too long.
The greatest difficulty is that most of the key strategic decisions in the finance world in Jersey are made by senior executives outside the Island, combine that fact with an industry that is by its very nature inward looking is it any wonder that it does not understand the threat of the EU.
The inevitable impact of EU regulation is not difficult to ascertain but for reasons I can not undersatand many business people in Jersey do not give the matter much importance.
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The EU have already started here with banning fishermen from catching RAY,and they won,t stop there either if they have their way.
They make up new laws at random and force feed us on a constant drip of phoney “science”panic and guilt in true Nazi fashion,persecuted by the state like naughty schoolchildren in the UK.
Petty laws brought in every day,making criminals of citizens while the real ones get away scot-free under human rights.
And to think the smiling assassin and his bush buddy across the water are still roaming the streets free.
Lets hope jersey keeps out of this corrupt set-up that is the EU!
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@ P Troy
Giving presentations on Banking does not qualify you to give an overview on offshore finance, banking is only one very small part of the equation and domestic banking even smaller.
Over the years Jersey has worked with the UK and EU to build its main industry to the benefit of all.Yes, strange as it amy seem, the UK and Europe both benefit from the offshore finance industry. Many obstacles have been put up and the island has always overcome them. Many more will come its way, and I am sure that these will be overcome as well. It’s certainly not all a large bunch of roses and some pain will be felt, but in the end the island will still be here and so will the finance industry.
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People go on about the UK being financed based and yes there is truth in that. However now the UK is part of a bigger club namely the EU. This means that the Channel Islands are at much greater risk than before.
How many now in the EU? 27 isn’t it?
When the UK joined with Ireland and Denmark in 1973 the EU became 9. This means since 1973 the UK’s influence in the EU has become even more diluted than once it was. It will be diluted even further once the rest of the Balkan states join.
What this means is that where once the UK controlled the Channel Islands future now the EU is playing an ever increasing role in this as the UK’s influence wains.
So what I hear you cry? Well the problem is that now, if the rest of the EU states decided finance as it is run in the C.I. was no longer to be tolerated then no matter what the UK’s protestations that would be that.
The only way I could see how the UK could protect the C.I., if the EU were so inclined to get rid of offshore finance centres, would be for the UK to cede from the EU. Now ask yourselves this would the UK take this massive step and would it be in their interests to do so? If your answer is no on both counts then the EU will be playing a larger and larger part in all our lives over here whether we like it or not.
I personally think it is daft being outside of the EU as to use a parrellel in the sea a sprat is an easy target for a shark. When you have the equivalent of two sharks one to the west and one to the east is it sensible to be too brightly coloured and advertising your whereabouts? I personally don’t think so.
In my opinion if Jersey wants to maintain any sort of independence then it must move away from finance asap. To fail to do so will result in the gradual errosion in Jersey’s independence and its ability to maintain its economy. I am convinced of this.
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Put that in your pipe and smoke it syvret
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Simon @16 – over thirty years of writing and reading about the EU gives me an understanding of how it works.
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I fully realise my views are in contrast to many other viewpoints, but I would like to see the Channel Islands lose their independence and become part of the UK
We could then have a member of parliament in Westminster, instead of the incompetent powder puff burkes we have here
I’m born & bred Jersey, so I’m not an outsider causing trouble
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Just look at the photo..is that what really speaks for us in 2010..like something from a farcical pantomime..A grotesque pastiche of democracy.
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Funny timing bearing in mind impending action by Senator Syvret on the very matter.
Some might say irresponsible and designed to frustrate judicial due process.
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“rico
Posted March 30, 2010 at 3:59 pm I am still waiting for our elusive Syvret to sue Jack Straw and turn Strasberg against us. But I wait with bated breath.”
I wouldn’t bother if I was you, Rico.
It took me a lot of perseverance and an excess of emails, but Stuart Syvret* finally admitted (or as good as admitted, given his prolixity) that he had failed in the very mission he had claimed to leave the island to pursue.
Roll on 19 April, when Stuart Syvret* finally will be expelled from the States Chamber.
*Other Syvrets (much nicer, by far) are available.
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As one would say, they would say that, wouldn’t they?
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Rica (3) I am still waiting for our elusive Syvret to sue Jack Straw and turn Strasberg against us. But I wait with bated breath.
Rico, take the time to read the report before littering the net with more of your naive nonsense, you do yourself a great disservice.
The JEP story and the Justice Committee report was on the governance of the Islands, the working of our democracy. Strasburg does not enter into the equation. Read Paragraph 41 of the report, with care.
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Shouldn’t Syvret be paying UK tax now? How long as he been in the UK?
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#8 I hate the position the UK put Jersey in by signing up to the EU. Okay, the UK didn’t get a say about the EU, the Government did what they wanted, but neither the people of Jersey NOR the States got a say in what happened to Jersey because of the UK’s decision, how can that be right? HR Man is right about changes that have occurred over here being directly linked to the EU.
#7 Simon, totally agree that Jersey will survive.
#20 Andrew, I’m just not sure that the UK would care as much about Jersey as you would want them to and need them to. The UK government does not have a good track record managing islands and those are islands that are far closer than Jersey is. Some laws are far too prescriptive and while useful in cities are a real hindrance to island life, but the cities matter more because they have more people. When it’s Jersey’s 95,000 to England’s 60 million, I don’t see Jersey being of great concern.
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#26 He will certainly have to be paying national insurance eitherway.
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Jersey did get a say on the EU and negotiated a particular position. It can easily be reserached by those who want to know how to put forward an informed, rather than an ill-informed, opinion.
And, for what it is worth, the UK people did too in the 1975 referendum.
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An interesting (and also relevant to this subject) comment from :
http://www.thisisjersey.com/2010/03/31/ill-resign-over-police-chief-appointment/#comment-61543
with thanks to “Blue Knight” #99
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Donald Pond # 68 said, “The crux is, very few people reach high levels in the civil service or in private sector unless they can demonstrate integrity and discretion in abundance. The idea that such people are easily manipulated or “leaned upon” only indicates the lack of real-world experience of those making such accusations.”
Unless you are trying to be ironic, for once Don, I think you are being a little naive. Have you never heard of nepotism and cronyism?
I can certainly recall some senior managers who didn’t know the law as well as they should have and who gave into politicians who wanted police officers to put a stop to investigations.
I would urge you to read the recently published book, ‘The Silent State’ by Heather Brooke, about secrets, surveillance and the myth of British Democracy. It was this lady who uncovered the M.P.s’ expenses scandal. She explains in her book, how we only get to learn about what the government wants us to know.
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