Shortly following the General Election in 2010, Andrew Rosindell MP asked then Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, whether the Government would give representation to the many thousands of British citizens who reside in our Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. Although the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies largely govern themselves, the British Parliament represents their interests when it comes to foreign affairs and defence.
Surely it is only right that they get an equal say in the laws that impact them.
As part of the political and constitutional reform process, will the Deputy Prime Minister undertake to give due consideration to the loyal subjects of Her Majesty’s overseas territories and Crown dependencies, who currently have no representation and no voice in the constitution of this country?
Andrew Rosindell M.P., Member of Parliament for Romford
They are extremely well represented by my hon. Friend, who I know is a passionate advocate of our relationship with overseas territories and, of course, Crown dependencies. We will continue to work with him and others in this House to make sure that the citizens of the overseas territories are served by their own legislatures, with champions here in this House and in government, and of course we will work with the Governments of the Crown dependencies to help them develop their own wider ambitions. This applies to the Falklands or Gibraltar, although I have to confess that Gibraltar is a sensitive topic in the Clegg household.
The Rt Hon. Nick Clegg M.P., Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
