There was a conference last week in Jersey, the aim of which was to explore the possibility of the island (and Guernsey) becoming independent of the UK.
The idea has been mooted before. Some of Jersey’s “old families” seem behind the move. But what was intriguing about the conference was referred to by the Jersey Evening Post in an editorial on the conference:
There is certainly no groundswell of public opinion in favour of any kind of break with the status quo and no sign of any political momentum in that direction. In fact, one of the most striking features of last week’s sovereignty conference was the total lack of participation by politicians.
Granted, States Members were fully occupied with the week-long Business Plan and the unaccustomed quest for spending cuts instead of spending plans, but their absence was noted.
Indeed, some might wonder why so much of the running is being made in this vital area by the Island’s legal establishment, with the close participation of the finance industry, rather than by visionary politicians capable of creating a new place in the world for these small and special islands.
Political involvement at some stage and at some level is certainly desirable — indeed essential — particularly in respect of one concrete idea floated at the conference, the advancement of the Bailiwicks’ common interests through a federation of the Channel Islands.
There’s much more to this than meets the eye. What this editorial really reveals is who has the power to make the big decisions in jersey. It's not the politicians: they’re bogged down in the nitty gritty of admin. The big decisions are being taken by finance and their legal friends. And as the JEP notes, there’s no evidence that local people want this at all. But what do local people matter to finance? This is an island still occupied after all — by finance, who exploit the place for their own ends.
Finance is worried. Worried by the implications of the EU Code of Conduct on Business Taxation and that it will force change on Jersey's abusive corporate tax system. And it’s worried by the European Union Savings Tax Directive — which will open the place up to all EU enquiring tax authorities. So what does finance want, despite the lack of desire from anyone else? Independence from such demands, of course.
The battle lines are set. I suspect this will tear the place apart.
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This is a total non-issue, just a few old people getting together and waffling away. Far from “tearing the place apart” actually nothing will happen. There is no demand for this, from either the finance or legal professions. So I wouldn’t give it a second tought.
Richard
There is no appetite for this. I can see the logic of holding such a conference to “test the water” and explore the options, which any such jurisdiction should arguably do from time to time, but nothing more.
The reality, and I think your post sort of infers this, is that if this was a serious proposal then it would all be getting discussed behind closed doors, or at least well out of the public eye, at the exploratory stage, rather than publicly !
Personally, I think it could be seen as Jersey trying to send out a message that it won’t be bullied by the UK and EU and could go it alone. Not sure that’s a wise move at all, and would send out a very negative message indeed as to the need for such a course of action.
It won’t even get past first base.
Jersey worried? The government, enthral with “finance”, will manoeuvre its way out of any “change” that the feeble (and duplicitous) EU and UK establishment is ever likely to attempt.
Jurisdictions such as Guernsey, Isle of Man and Jersey are a (what can be loosely described as) law unto themselves and “change” will only be effected by a full scale military invasion.
Massive political and economic vested interest will ensure that this never happens.
@Madfoetus: shall I tell Bill Bailhache – Jersey’s next Bailiff – that you said he’s old and he waffles? 🙂
Richard,
Some years ago you alluded to the issue of independence for Jersey in a discussion about the 0/10 tax proposals and wrote:
“..the Bailiff has trailed plans for Jersey’s breakaway from the UK so that it might avoid fulfilling the commitments Senator Walker acknowledges it gave to the UK to comply with the requirements of the EU. Thirdly, Senators Walker and Le Sueur must know by now that their plans do not comply with those requirements, and I have little doubt that the Bailiff is more acutely aware of this than anyone and will have told them as much. Nothing else can explain his preparations for Jersey’s apparently forthcoming unilateral declaration of independence. These are the actions of worried men.”
Islanders should be seriously worried about the conference held on 17th September. This was the ruling class of Jersey organising to do whatever is necessary to keep the finance industry operating should there be threats from the EU. The plans are in place and we even have the comic aspects of a new flag and national anthem, necessary for the idealized sovereign state. Islanders will not be consulted; they will be manipulated or ignored. It is not intended they participate in the decision. There were no elected politicians at the conference and they did not need to be.
We are sleepwalking into tyranny. But nothing is inevitable. The plans for UDI can be opposed by popular action. We must recognise the danger and organise against the proposed coup d’etat being led by Jersey’s Crown Officers.
Blackballed
What utter rubbish. I’ve never read so much garbage on this site in one posting.
Your last sentence is clear evidence that you are clueless. The “Crown Officers” don’t lead anything of the sort. Their role is a “Crown” one, not a States of Jersey one. Who do yu think directs them – the finance industry? Don’t be absurd.
[…] And so far all they can say they’ll do is declare independence. […]