JERSEY’S External Relations Minister does not expect any shift in the Island’s relationship with the UK as the Labour administration enters its third week in power.
During an Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel hearing yesterday afternoon, Deputy Ian Gorst answered questions about the potential implications of the change in government for the Island.
He said the department was keen to engage with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, whom Deputy Gorst confirmed he had spoken to twice since the UK general election.
Deputy Gorst added that he had “no concerns” about working with a Labour administration because the Island had experience of working with different parliamentary parties.
He said: “We in Jersey have worked with Labour governments in the past. We’ve worked with Conservative governments. We’ve worked with coalition governments involving Liberal Democrats.”
Elsewhere in the hearing, the UK government’s decision to scrap the Conservatives’ controversial Rwanda deportation policy was discussed. The scheme, which was ruled unlawful by UK courts, cost British taxpayers £700 million despite only four volunteers being sent to the African country, according to new Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Jersey’s previous government declined to rule out sending asylum seekers caught trying to enter Jersey to Rwanda.
But yesterday Deputy Gorst stressed that the policy did not affect the Island.
He went on to speak about the Island’s ongoing co-operation with Rwanda in areas such as finance, education and business investment.
