Chief Minister sends open letter to PM
A DISORDERLY Brexit is not in Guernsey’s interests, Policy & Resources president Gavin St Pier has said in a letter to UK Prime Minister Theresa May.
In the UK politicians have been struggling to determine how they wish the UK to exit the EU, with great uncertainty surrounding the process.
While the UK was due to leave last Friday, the date has been pushed back to 12 April, when the country will either leave the union without a deal or the Prime Minister will request a further extension.
The UK has already reassured the Channel Islands that its actions would be compatible with the constitutional relationship between them.
But yesterday Deputy St Pier wrote again to tell the Prime Minister that leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement would be disorderly.
‘Guernsey’s interests would be served best by an agreed position, which would allow for an orderly exit for the UK, the EU and its member states,’ he wrote.
‘In the meantime, of necessity, the government of Guernsey will continue to plan for all possible outcomes of the Brexit process.
‘Our planning will be assisted by the extension of the United Kingdom’s membership of the World Trade Organisation to Guernsey and we also continue to work towards that goal with the Department of International Trade.’
He informed the Prime Minister that he planned to publish the letter and asked her to reply, as this would benefit Guernsey’s community.
The letter was also sent to Robin Walker – the parliamentary under secretary of state for the Department for Exiting the European Union – as well as Lord Keen at the Ministry of Justice, Alderney’s Policy & Finance chairman James Dent and Sark’s Policy & Performance chairman Peter La Trobe-Bateman.
