To : The Editor (30/03/10)
Dear Sir
UK House of Commons Justice Committee Report on Crown Dependencies

In the furore over the UK general election I fear this important report will not only lose any momentum it had in the UK but will miss most of us in the Isle of Man. OK, if you’ve got a sleepless night it’ll probably make a good remedy (www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmjust/56/56i.pdf) but nevertheless it’s an important document that examines the relationship between Whitehall’s departments and the Crown Dependencies, and in particular the Isle of Man.

We all moan that the Isle of Man seems to acquiesce far too easily to the UK but I think there is blame on both sides. It appears that there is confusion in the UK over the way in which oversight has been operated, with double confusion over who has responsibility for what, and that applies both ways.

It seems there has been duplication of work by our own government officers and those in the UK with pressure to change domestic legislation that should have been the responsibility of our own government often being successfully applied. It also throws up one of my beefs, that is our lack of representation at EU and international level. This is only too apparent when UK interests override our own and we don't get a look in.

One suggestion is that if we are to continue shadowing EU legislation, as seems highly probable, then it would be sensible for the Crown Dependencies to establish an office in Brussels to make sure our interests are heard. Our Protocol 3 relationship seems to confound not only our politicians but those in the UK as well as the EU itself.

The report is all the more welcome because of the arrogant way in which the UK have treated us with regard to the VAT agreement and the without notice termination (presently suspended) of the reciprocal health agreement.

Whether the suggested protocols will actually happen remains to be seen but if only some form of EU representation comes out, coupled with a better understanding of the UK's role in oversight this would be progress in the right direction.

Sadly I think, with all the political turmoil in the UK at the present, little will change.

Regards
Geoffrey Boot
Ballagarraghyn
St Johns