THE island’s interests will be better represented in the UK Parliament. Lindsay Hoyle MP is set to form an all-party parliamentary Channel Islands group.

Mr Hoyle, Labour MP for Chorley, called for one to be formed after he tabled an early day motion in June congratulating the islands on the 800th anniversary of allegiance to the English Crown. It has so far received 46 signatures.

He is going ahead with the idea after receiving support from MPs, Chief Minister Laurie Morgan and Jersey’s Policy and Resources Committee president Frank Walker.

‘I am pleased that both the governments of Guernsey and Jersey have offered their support for the establishment of an all-party parliamentary Channel Island group,’ said Mr Hoyle.

‘I now plan to organise an annual general meeting when parliament returns.

‘I am confident that the group will gain the support of MPs and peers across all parties and will act as a new and important channel of communication between our respective parliaments.’

Deputy Morgan and Senator Walker have written to Mr Hoyle offering support.

‘We believe that such a group will represent an excellent opportunity to raise understanding for the islands and our democratic traditions in the UK parliament,’ they said in a joint statement.

‘Guernsey and Jersey will offer such a group our full support and hope that it will become a useful and effective mechanism for more regular dialogue with our counterparts in the UK Parliament.

‘We understand that he [Lindsay Hoyle] feels that in view of the strength and breadth of support for the early day motion he tabled on the 800th anniversary of our association with the Crown, there is sufficient interest in the UK parliament to warrant formation of a group.’

Mr Hoyle, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Gibraltar Group, entered the motion as an offer of support and to try to increase awareness of the islands’ milestone.

Aware that little was to come of the motion directly, Mr Hoyle said that he hoped it might indirectly provide a springboard for closer links.

The motion will remain on the order papers until the end of the parliamentary session in November. Mr Hoyle could re-lay it at the start of the next one in November because it remains the 800-year anniversary of the Channel Islands’ allegiance to the Crown.