Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq met with UK parliamentarians at the Channel Islands All Party Parliamentary Group (CIAPPG) meeting on Monday 29 June. Attendees used technology to meet and talk together whilst in separate physical locations. The meeting focussed primarily on each island's response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the UK-EU future relationship negotiations, but other topics were also considered and discussed.
The CIAPPG's purpose is to promote a better understanding of the issues facing the Channel Islands and to develop relations between the UK and the Channel Islands.
Deputy Le Tocq, member of the Policy & Resources Committee with responsibility for external relations, represented Guernsey at the meeting. There were also representatives from Alderney, Sark and Jersey. The meeting was well attended by UK parliamentarians from across the political spectrum, both MPs and Lords.
Deputy Le Tocq said:
'CIAPPG meetings are one part of Guernsey's continuing programme of engagement with UK parliamentarians, enabling us to build relationships and explain our views on matters of importance to the island.
This was the first virtual meeting of the CIAPPG; ordinarily, the meeting would be held in the Houses of Parliament. However, with border measures in place across the Channel Islands, officials across the jurisdictions worked together to enable our engagement to continue using technology.
The meeting attendees were interested in the islands' responses to the Covid-19 pandemic and in the potential outcomes and impacts for us of the UK-EU future relationship negotiations. There is a continuing enthusiasm to help to develop a greater understanding across Westminster of our special constitutional relationship with the Crown and our particular geographical and economic situations.'
