The island’s relationship with Westminster would probably suffer if we were to elect our own MP, the Chief Minister says.

Anthony Webber, a former member of Guernsey’s parliament, has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured) seeking support for MPs to represent all UK Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories.

If Mr Webber’s plan, for which he has drafted a Bill, was to succeed, the Isle of Man would have it own MP to represent us all at Westminster.

However, Chief Minister Howard Quayle told the Examiner this would be a mistake and close more doors than it would open.

Mr Quayle said: ’I don’t think it would be a good move for the Isle of Man in so much that there 650 MPs in Westminster and I have the opportunity to lobby all of them.

’I get to see the key politicians in Westminster of the SNP, DUP, Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem, I can and regularly do meet with them and we have the All Party Parliamentary Group where there is also Lords and cross party involvement.

’Now if that was all done away with and you just had one MP, they’re not going to achieve much.

’It sounds good, but personally I think having ministers who can go and speak to their UK counterparts is the best way forward.’

The Chief Minister also warned that if the Crown Dependencies were to send representatives to Westminster, it could impact upon our ability to make our own legislation and ’effectively make us part of the United Kingdom’.

In his letter to the PM, Mr Webber said that the UK is ’the only nation which does not provide national Parliament representation for their overseas territories’.

He added: ’We focus in our proposals about the representation which the French and Danish provide for their territories and islands, but there are many other nations in the world who also make such provision.

’Indeed, the UK is on its own, stuck in a timewarp of not progressing to national Parliament representation for all its territories.

’It is nothing but a dereliction of duty by successful UK governments and parliaments.’

If Mr Webber was to achieve his dream, there would be nine new constituencies created to serve the CDs and Overseas Territories.

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