UK looks to Jersey for news of life after Brexit

Thursday 07 July 2016

Senior UK politicians are using Jersey as a test-case for life outside the EU.

States Deputy John Le Fondre attended a British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) this week in which Jersey’s position outside the EU was put under the microscope by leading politicians.

Jersey was a focal point for British and Irish politicians, keen to know how the economy has been affected. 

Deputy Le Fondre, who attended the assembly alongside Deputy Kevin Lewis, said: “It was a very worthwhile assembly and as you can imagine, following the referendum result, there was a great deal of interest in how Jersey has economically dealt with being outside the EU. Although we are comparatively small, and the UK is obviously very big, a lot of the discussions were centred on how Jersey has adapted to its status outside the EU. 

"I think the message we have sent to the other representatives was to remain calm. It was a really informative assembly and I think by talking and discussing matters we were able to help other representatives, who clearly have their concerns over the EU referendum vote in the UK. 

“I think the benefit of the assembly was as a sounding board for all things EU and obviously Jersey is in a special place as we are not part of it, whereas the UK and the Republic of Ireland currently are. There were plenty of discussions on what it is like being outside the EU and how it affects our economy in Jersey. 

“In particular, I think it is fair to say quite a few representatives from the Republic of Ireland were greatly concerned about the possible return of a hard border with Northern Ireland.  These are all things that were discussed at the assembly and will clearly be on the agenda for some time, following the EU referendum result.”

The assembly is made up of 25 members from each sovereign parliament, plus representatives from the Scottish Parliament, Welsh National Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly, the Isle of Man Tynwald (or parliament) and the States of Jersey. 

Deputy Le Fondre said the assembly has had notable successes in the past, in particular with health provision.

He said: “About five years ago BIPA was instrumental in seeking reciprocal health care. At the time there was a fear that people travelling from Jersey to the UK mainland would not be allowed free health care and vice versa, but the assembly managed to make sure those proposals were cancelled. That is just one of the ways in which it has had a very beneficial effect.”

Deputy Le Fondre highlighted the enormous strides BIPA has made among the political divides within the British Isles. 

He said: “The closing address was by Lord Kilclooney who revealed that he had been shot by the Irish Republic Army eight times and yet was now speaking to all sides of the divide.  I think that shows how far we have come, through dialogue between different political parties.”

Deputy Le Fondre will attend the next assembly meeting in November and an economic affairs committee in October. 

“The committee meeting will again centre around the UK referendum result and I’m sure the fact that Jersey has functioned outside the EU will take up a very significant part of the meeting.”