October 28, 2022
Jersey Ministers and officials represented the Island at the 2022 UK Party Conferences, working to build and maintain connections and relationships to ensure that Jersey’s interests are properly understood and addressed at Westminster.
At the Conservative Party Conference, which took place from 2 to 5 October in Birmingham, Chief Minister Kristina Moore, Minister for External Relations Philip Ozouf and Treasury and Resources Minister Deputy Gorst undertook a wide range of engagements with UK Ministers, Parliamentarians, and international diplomatic representatives. Deputy Ozouf had the opportunity to speak to the outgoing EU Ambassador to the UK, João Vale de Almeida, as well as Martin Fraser the Irish Ambassador to the UK and Viljar Lubi the Estonian Ambassador to the UK. This Ministerial engagement was supplemented by several meetings undertaken at official level by members of the Jersey London Office.
At the Labour Conference, which took place from 25 to 28 September in Liverpool, the Minister for External Relations and Jersey officials held a series of bilateral meetings with Labour Parliamentarians and further meetings with international diplomatic representatives. There were brief engagements with the Shadow Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon David Lammy MP; the Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP; and the Shadow Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP
Due to the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Liberal Democrats Conference was cancelled entirely this year. Officials from the Jersey London Office attended the Scottish National Party Conference which was held in person for the first time in a number of years.
Although Jersey is, of course, not represented at Westminster, engagement across the UK political spectrum – including at a range of Party Conferences – helps to ensure that the Island’s interests are considered by UK politicians. Attendance at Party Conferences, which also provides valuable insights into the latest UK political developments, is complemented by the programme of regular Ministerial and official-level engagement organised throughout the year by the Government of Jersey London Office.
