Monday 13 May 2019
Today Deputy Gavin St Pier attended a series of meetings in London to discuss Brexit with ministers from the Department for Exiting the EU, Robin Walker MP, and the Ministry of Justice the Rt Hon Lord Keen.
He also took the opportunity to lobby on the beneficial ownership issue.
"This was the ninth Chief Minister's meeting with Robin Walker and the first since the UK extended the Article 50 process. It was a valuable opportunity to review our experiences from the 'No Deal' planning process as well as develop our plan for phase 2 of the negotiations. I was able to reiterate the constitutional duty for the UK to represent our interests when seeking a new EU partnership that we can participate in, in particular the need for an economic relationship that is proportionate to our needs.
I wrote to the Prime Minister on 1 April to reiterate this message and express the importance of an orderly exit from the EU. Last Friday I received the response reiterating the UK commitment to represent our interests even when they differ from the UK's, defend the constitutional relationship and resist attempts to legislate for the islands without our consent. A copy of this correspondence is also being published today.
I further took the opportunity to discuss the beneficial ownership issue with MPs, including Anneliese Dodds, shadow treasury minister as well as a representative of the Church Commissioner who have an interest in this policy area."