A FAILURE to award the Bailiff a knighthood in the Queen’s New Year Honours may be politically driven, it has been confirmed. Vice chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Channel Islands Group and Conservative MP for Romford Andrew Rosindell said Geoffrey Rowland should be given the same accolade as his predecessors.
‘I met the Bailiff in October and I’m disappointed to hear he has not been recognised in the traditional way,’ said Mr Rosindell yesterday.
‘I think tradition should be upheld and hopefully it will be in the June Birthday Honours.’
Mr Rowland’s nomination for a knighthood appears to have been blocked at Cabinet Office level, but that body has declined to comment.
Mr Rosindell did not know whether politics had been part of the refusal but said he would be asking questions of government.
‘I fear that certain elements of the Labour Party do have it in for the offshore Crown dependencies, which they consider to be not playing by the rules, which is untrue, of course.’
Andy Priaulx was another islander who appeared to be snubbed for honours.
The triple World Touring Car Champion said he, too, was disappointed to hear Mr Rowland’s name was absent from the honours list.
‘I think he deserves the honour,’ said Priaulx.
‘He’s a nice man, very dynamic and a good Bailiff. He has very good connections with the people, young and old, and he’s very keyed-in to the modern way of the world.’
Mr Priaulx would not commit himself on whether he personally should be honoured by the Queen.
‘I’m proud of my island and of what I have achieved,’ he said.
‘I’m grateful to all those people who support me, both on and off island.
‘Formula One has such a powerful marketing presence and it’s very difficult for me to compete with that.’
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