New PM names UK politician with responsibility for Channel Islands

Wednesday 07 September 2022

New UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has appointed a new Justice Secretary, who will have responsibility for the UK’s relationship with the Channel Islands.

Brandon Lewis was named last night as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.

Mr Lewis, a qualified barrister, will already be known to some senior politicians in Jersey, as he attended at least one summit of the British-Irish Council when he was Northern Ireland Secretary between February 2020 and 7 July, when he resigned from Boris Johnson’s cabinet.

The last summit he attended was in Northern Ireland in June 2021, which was attended by then Chief Minister John Le Fondré and External Relations Minister Ian Gorst.

Guernsey Chief Minister Peter Ferbrache also attended that meeting, which focused on responses to the covid pandemic. 

Mr Lewis, who was elected Conservative MP for Great Yarmouth in 2010, has previously been Minister of State for Security and Deputy for EU Exit and No Deal Preparation, Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service, and Minister of State for Housing and Planning at the Department for Communities and Local Government.

A warm #JerseyCI welcome to @BrandonLewis as the newly appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, with responsibility for the Crown Dependencies

We look forward to a continued strong relationship between #JerseyCI & the UK under the leadership of PM @trussliz pic.twitter.com/aN4mvY3ahw

— Philip Ozouf ???????????????? (@philipozouf) September 6, 2022

Pictured: External Relations Minister Philip Ozouf tweeted a welcome to Mr Lewis after last night's announcement.

He replaces Dominic Raab at the Ministry of Justice. Mr Lewis is likely to appoint a Minister who will have specific responsibility for the Crown Dependencies. 

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for managing the constitutional relationship with Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, which involves a variety of different responsibilities including involvement in key Crown Appointments, processing their legislation for Royal Assent and issuing ‘Letters of Entrustment’ authorising Crown Dependency governments to negotiate and conclude international agreements.

However, all UK Government departments have authority to engage directly with the Crown Dependencies on their policy areas.

In Mr Brandon’s resignation letter to Mr Johnson in July, he wrote: “I have given you, and those around you, the benefit of the doubt. 

Pictured: The Rt Hon Brandon Lewis is the Conservative MP for Great Yarmouth and has been an MP since May 2010. (CreativeCommons)

“I have gone out and defended this Government both publicly and privately. 

“We are, however, now past the point of no return. I cannot sacrifice my personal integrity to defend things as they stand now. 

“It is clear that our Party, parliamentary colleagues, volunteers and the whole country, deserve better.”

At the end of July, he publicly backed Mrs Truss, saying that she was “much more likely” than her rival Rishi Sunak to achieve a quick return to power sharing in Northern Ireland if she became prime minister.