Conservative Sir Bob Neill has had significant connections with the island, particularly over Brexit, and former SNP and Scottish Conservative Lisa Cameron was a member of the Channel Islands All Party Parliamentary Group during her nine years at Westminster.
Former Welsh First Minister Lord Carwyn Jones visited the island for a British-Irish Council summit in 2018.
They are joined by constitutional academic Professor Caroline Morris and former senior UK civil servant Philip Rycroft.
The membership of the panel has been agreed by the Policy & Resources Committee and the Policy & Finance Committees of Alderney and Sark, but it will work separately and independently from the three islands, while being funded largely by Guernsey, with £500,000 set aside to cover a project of up to 18 months.
‘The calibre of the commissioners is exceptional, and they all have a genuine interest in the task in hand. Collectively, they have the experience and knowledge to undertake this inquiry, under the strong and distinguished leadership of Sir Bob Neill,’ said P&R president Lindsay de Sausmarez.
The commission’s job will be to gather evidence about the constitutional and working arrangements between the islands, how to maintain their independence and unique characteristics, and propose changes to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
It will decide how it works to fulfil the terms of reference but there will be efforts to stimulate ‘national conversations’ within each island community.
It will produce an interim report in September and a final report by the end of September 2027.
‘Over recent years, the Bailiwick has shown its strength when united for a common purpose – for example, when facing the Covid-19 pandemic or developing the islands’ response to Brexit,’ said Deputy de Sausmarez.
‘The Bailiwick Commission will consider how to ensure that the relationships between the Bailiwick islands are fit for purpose so that we can best meet the challenges and opportunities ahead in our increasingly complex world.’
The commission is operating with a £500,000 budget from the States of Guernsey, topped up with £15,000 from Alderney. Sark is considering a contribution in kind.
The budget will cover any fees and pre-authorised expenses for the commissioners, fees for any advice commissioned, travel and associated costs and publication costs.
The commissioners will be remunerated on a day rate basis, and contracts are being finalised. Pay rates have not been disclosed but are expected to be based around those paid by the Welsh Constitutional Commission. Reasonable expenses will also be paid.
Commissioners will be expected to make a commitment of up to 50 days over the 18-month period.
The make up of the Bailiwick Commission
Sir Bob Neill, chairman
A former Conservative MP between 2006-2024, and was Minister for Local Government, Planning and the Fire Service from 2010 to 2012. He was chairman of the House of Commons Justice Committee, which considered issues regarding the Bailiwick, including undertaking inquiries and publishing specific reports about the constitutional and working relationships between the Crown Dependencies and the UK. Since leaving Parliament in 2024, Sir Bob has resumed his career as a practising barrister based in London.
Dr Lisa Cameron
Was an SNP MP in Westminster from 2015 until 2023 when she crossed the floor to join the Conservatives, claiming a ‘difficult relationship with the party leadership’. She left the Commons the following year. She served on a number of select committees and was a member of the Channel Islands All Party Parliamentary Group.
She is a clinical psychologist and has acted as an expert witness in Scottish childcare cases, and since leaving politics has established a think tank.
Lord Carwyn Jones
The former First Minister of Wales from 2009-2018 and former Leader of Welsh Labour. He was a member of the Welsh Parliament for more than 20 years from 1999 and attended a British-Irish Council summit in Guernsey in that role in 2018. He became a member of the House of Lords in January 2025 where he is a member of the House of Lords Constitution Committee. He is a Professor of Law at Aberystwyth University.
Professor Caroline Morris
A Professor in Constitutional Law at Queen Mary University in London, with particular interests in constitutional reform, legislatures, elections and referendums. She is the founder and director of the Centre for Small States which specialises in the law and legal frameworks of small states, territories and jurisdictions.
She is an expert in constitutional issues in the Crown Dependencies, with academic and practical experience in the islands.
Philip Rycroft
A former senior civil servant with the UK government and the devolved government in Scotland, including spells as the permanent secretary for the Department for Exiting the EU and director-general in the Deputy Prime Minister’s office. He was the lead Whitehall official on constitutional and devolution matters from 2012 to 2019 and was a commissioner on a review of the Constitutional Future of Wales from 2021 to 2024. He has experience of working with Guernsey through the British-Irish Council.
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