One of MPs behind anti-secrecy move to visit in December

One of MPs behind anti-secrecy move to visit in December

In April, an amendment was lodged in the House of Commons to enforce a public register of beneficial ownership – a list of who ultimately owns a company – on Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories in an effort to tackle money-laundering in offshore centres.

Crown Dependencies were later removed from the amendment but British Overseas Territories were not and must now implement a public register by 2020.

It was claimed that Crown Dependencies had been withdrawn from the amendment following lobbying from then Chief Minister Ian Gorst and former External Relations Minister Sir Philip Bailhache, along with representatives from other Crown Dependencies, who travelled to London ahead of the vote.

At the time, Senator Gorst argued that the practice of the UK legislating for Jersey was ‘unconstitutional’ and a public register could not be forced on Jersey without its consent.

It was also feared that the move would threaten the highly valued confidentiality of customers of Jersey’s financial service businesses.

However, in an interview with the JEP, MP Andrew Mitchell said that the Island’s politicians played no part in the decision to remove the Crown Dependencies from the amendment.

At the same time, he confirmed that he and Dame Margaret Hodge – who originally lodged the amendment – still wanted Crown Dependencies to introduce a public register and would visit Jersey in an effort to persuade the States to introduce one. The pair have already visited Guernsey and the Isle of Man. But, he warned that the UK would use royal powers to force the islands to implement a public register if they did not do so voluntarily.

A spokesman for Mr Mitchell, said yesterday: ‘The proposed date is 3 December but we are awaiting confirmation from the Chief Minister’s office.’

The JEP attempted to contact the office of Dame Margaret for comment but did not receive a response.

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