Guernsey hosts British-Irish Council
- Published
Issues discussed include the cost of living crisis, the Northern Ireland Protocol and Ukraine
A meeting of the British-Irish Council has been held in Guernsey.
Politicians attending included Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin and Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
Sinn Fein ministers Conor Murphy and John O'Dowd also attended the 37th summit.
Issues discussed included the cost of living crisis, the Northern Ireland Protocol, Ukraine and the resignation of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The British-Irish Council was created in 1998 as part of the Good Friday Agreement to develop good working relationships between the nations of Britain and Ireland.
One of Mr Johnson's closest allies has lamented the demise of "his boss and friend" and called on the Tory Party to allow the outgoing prime minister to have "an exit with dignity".
Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns was the UK government representative, and leaders of the government of the Isle of Man also attended.
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Ahead of the summit, Wales First Minister, Mark Drakeford, said: "The British-Irish Council is designed to foster strong working relationships between all the governments involved.
"We are here to do the serious business of working together to make things better for the people in our respective nations and islands."
Jersey Chief Minister John Le Fondré said the conference provided "the opportunity to discuss the crucial issues facing all our jurisdictions, and to both learn from others and share successes".
Jersey Chief Minister-designate Kristina Moore said it provided "an important forum for consultation and co-operation across several key areas, including energy, housing, and the environment".
She added she was looking forward to future summits, with Jersey set to host in 2023.
Johnson's position 'untenable'
It is the fifth time the meeting has been held in Guernsey.
President of Guernsey's Policy & Resources Committee, Peter Ferbrache, said it had "provided an excellent opportunity for heads of administration to discuss a range of matters, such as our responses to the cost of living increases, the war in Ukraine and climate change".
He added he was "certain that it will remain an invaluable forum for Guernsey to be a part of".
Mr Burns said it had been a "very difficult" week for his "his boss and friend" Boris Johnson.
He said: "I think he accepts that the position was untenable. The colleagues had reached a conclusion and they'd reached it in such numbers, that it was impossible to turn it around.
"I still believe that colleagues will look back and wonder: 'What have we done?'"
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- Published8 July 2022
