Keeping a relationship special
AS we said in this column just the other day, relationships, particularly those with the government of the United Kingdom, are very important in politics. And especially with Guernsey’s 800-year relationship with the English Crown.
Not that the relationship with the Crown is believed to be anything other than perfectly satisfactory, but when politicians get involved, and consider that little old Guernsey might be quite expendable if circumstances dictate, it can quite often be on risky ground.
We don’t always know if we’re working that relationship right – frankly we probably won’t know until the next bombshell, or potential bombshell, hits.
So it’s at least a little reassuring to hear our lead politician on external affairs say – telling the UK government, admittedly – that relationships between ‘them and us’ are as good as they have ever been. If it’s a bit of positive news in relation to Brexit, then let’s take it.
Perhaps the underestimated part of these negotiations is our role as one of three Crown Dependencies and the strength of that relationship. Sometimes you want the best deal for yourself, but more often than not, one island’s best interests will be the same as that of the others.
When we hear whispers of Guernsey taking the lead on controversial issues, in part to ensure the others hold the line, the strength of that relationship will be fully tested.