Statement following UK election result

09 June 2017

The Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, has said that the Government of Jersey will be able to work productively with the new British government when it is formed, as well as Parliamentarians of all parties, following the result of a hung parliament after the UK general election yesterday.

The Chief Minister said “Elections are of course a matter for the people of the United Kingdom. It has been our consistent policy to develop strong relationships with members of parties across the political spectrum in the UK, particularly to ensure that they understand Jersey’s constitutional position and robust approach to tackling tax evasion and other forms of financial crime. We have worked well with the current UK Government on a variety of issues and have also built productive relationships with the Opposition, including the Shadow Chancellor and Shadow Foreign Secretary. I am confident that we will be able to work productively alongside any new government to ensure that the best possible deal is achieved for the Island in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.”

The Minister for External Relations, Senator Sir Philip Bailhache, said “In light of the potential impacts of Brexit on the Island, I look forward the opportunity to work closely with the UK Minister with responsibility for the Crown Dependencies at the Ministry of Justice, and their ministerial colleague at the Department for Exiting the European Union, once they are appointed. The Ministry of External Relations and Jersey London Office have built a network of official and political contacts across Whitehall on a range of matters and we expect a high degree of continuity and stability in advance of the Brexit negotiations this Autumn.”