Unpopular: Overseas Territory Political Representation
A motion tabled asking for overseas territories to have political representation in Britain has received minimal support, with only 16 signatures out of hundreds of politicians.
The type of motion, an ‘Early day motion’, is a formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons, however, very are actually debated. They are said to be used more for reasons including to publicize the views of individual MPs, draw attention to specific events or campaigns.
They must be one sentences of under 250 words. This motion was tabled by Lindsay Hoyle, MP for Chorley since 1997.
That this House believes there is a logical, moral and justly democratic need for British Overseas Territories to have representations in the House of Commons should they so wish; notes with concern the lack of recognition of the fact that ultimately this House is the Parliament for all overseas terrritories and therefore has responsibility for supporting good governance for the people living there; notes that France, the Netherlands, Spain and the US have such representation in their respective systems; is concerned by the lack of dialogue with the people, legislatures and governance of those territories; and calls on the Government to provide an adequate mechanism through which this House can adequately honour its constitutional relationships with overseas territories.
As of this writing it has received 16 signatures, with the first signed on March 30, 2010 and the last on April 7th, 2010. Signers include:
- Hoyle, Lindsay
- Crausby, David
- Dobbin, Jim
- Laxton, Bob
- Rosindell, Andrew
- Spink, Bob
- Bottomley, Peter
- Campbell, Ronnie
- Pelling, Andrew
- Owen, Albert
- Donaldson, Jeffrey
- Hamilton, David
- Hancock, Mike
- Wareing, Robert N
- Winterton, Ann
- Leech, John
Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory along with 13 other jurisdictions; Anguilla, the British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena, Turks and Caicos, Pitcairn Island, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, and the Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus.
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