When the UK joined the then European Community in 1973, Jersey was kept out of the discussions, leaving many, including current External Relations Minister Sir Philip Bailhache, claiming that the Island was simply ‘an afterthought’.
But in a statement to the Crown Dependencies on Friday, Mrs May said that Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man would be kept informed of developments throughout the negotiation process and would be ‘offered the opportunity to contribute where it is relevant and appropriate to do so’.
The Prime Minister, who took office shortly after last month’s referendum result, also acknowledged the Crown Dependencies’ desire for EU nationals already resident in their territories to keep their rights to live and work in the islands when the UK leaves the EU, and Mrs May ‘noted’ that maintaining existing trade relationships with the UK and Europe as far as is possible was a key priority for the three jurisdictions.
