Commons Speaker's new stained glass window marks "strong links" with islands

Wednesday 10 May 2023

A stained glass window depicting Jersey's heraldic shield has been unveiled in the House of Commons Speaker's House in honour of the Crown Dependencies.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle unveiled two new stained glass windows dedicated to the British Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies yesterday (Tuesday 9 May).

All 16 overseas territories and the three Crown Dependencies, including Jersey, are represented in the two windows with a depiction of each of their heraldic shields embedded in stained glass.

Also featured are the heraldic shields of Guernsey, and the Isle of Man. 

I often use the term 'British Family' – and I say it because I mean it. We - the UK, the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies are a family. pic.twitter.com/vFAhnIzyju

— Sir Lindsay Hoyle (@CommonsSpeaker) May 9, 2023

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said that these works of art "would be a permanent and tangible reminder of the strong and close links between the UK and its wider family."

He continued: "In my opinion, the Overseas Territories and dependencies have been overlooked for too long - yet many of the decisions we make here in the UK have a huge impact on their futures. They are important to me – they are part of our United Kingdom family - and I want to provide them with a platform on which to speak, to air their concerns, to share experiences and to enable us to learn from each other. 

"From now on, every single person coming into Speaker’s House will be reminded of how closely we are connected."

Pictured Top: The stained glass window, unveiled on Tuesday.