A message with two meanings

THERE seems little doubt that Lord McNally, the UK minister with responsibility for the Crown Dependencies, has a winning way with him. Those who met the Lib Dem peer found him approachable, pleasant and prepared to listen.

He is also something of a diplomat with an ability to say the right thing to the right people at the right time.

Loss of LVCR and Qrops, Guernsey? No, no, HMG hasn't got it in for you. Quite the opposite but treasuries need to raise money you know and who can blame them… difficult times and all that… Well, there we are. Sorry.

Next time, and we hope there won't be but who can rule it out in these difficult times and, well there we are, but if it was to happen again, we'd let you know first, naturally, and, after all, we're still all friends, aren't we?

Baron McNally of Blackpool was less avuncular in Sark but probably even more effective, pulling off the really remarkable result of leaving both sides of the divide in that island able to feel that he was supportive of their cause.

It is also clear that Lord McNally enjoys a challenge, having volunteered for the Crown Dependencies portfolio and agreed not only to address an open meeting in Sark but to travel there in atrocious conditions in a small boat to do so.

In Guernsey's case – conditional on what he might have said in private – the visit seems to have been a success with nothing said that couldn't have been worked out in advance.

For Sark, however, the message is ultimately less comfortable.

That means separating politicians from administrative matters, introducing transparency and accountability and focusing on sustainable commercial and economic development appropriate to the island.

Which is largely – although in less strident terms – what the Sark Newsletter has been calling for and which has so irritated Sark's government.

In many respects, Lord McNally had the same message for both islands: it's a time of change.