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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will today call for all of the British Isles - including the Crown Dependencies - to "work together" at a summit that will be attended by Jersey's Chief Minister and CEO.
Rishi Sunak's appearance at today's British-Irish Council meeting hosted by the UK Government in the North West marks the first time in 15 years that a UK Prime Minister has attended.
Established as part of the Good Friday Agreement, the British-Irish Council aims to promote positive relationships across all of the islands and is made up of representatives from the UK Government, Irish Government, Scottish Government, Northern Ireland Executive, Welsh Government, Isle of Man Government, Government of Jersey and Government of Guernsey.
Opening the 38th summit, Mr Sunak is expected to tell all delegates: "We face huge challenges from global economic headwinds to war in Europe.
"So let’s be pragmatic. Let’s work together in our shared interests.
"Let’s deliver for all our people across these great islands – and build a future defined not by division, but by unity and hope."
After opening the summit, Mr Sunak will attend a dinner with delegates. Minister for Intergovernental Relations Michael Gove will represent the UK government at a plenary session tomorrow (Friday 11 November).
Chief Minister Deputy Kristina Moore and Chief Executive Suzanne Wylie will represent Jersey at the summit on both days.
He described Mr Sunak's attendance at the British-Irish Council as a "signal of our intent to work positively with our Irish counterparts and colleagues from the Devolved Governments and Crown Dependencies across the UK."
"As the Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, I look forward to chairing the Council this week and working cooperatively in the months ahead as we face up to many shared challenges," he added.
Deputy Moore wrote to Rishi Sunak two weeks ago to offer her "warmest congratulations" after his appointment to the UK's top political position.
CLICK TO ENLARGE: Deputy Kristina Moore's letter to Rishi Sunak.
She touched on the importance of the "longstanding links" between Jersey and the UK, as well as post-Brexit-related challenges for the island, which she said would need "ongoing cooperation".
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